Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's is called "Toilet Trouble"

You can read it here.

Michael Landon

Michael Landon passed away twenty years ago today. I found this little gem on YouTube: the Michael Landon roast from 1975...

Jose Cardenal

Today's Tale from a Bad Century at JOBC is about the wacky hijinks of one of my favorite players when I was a boy: Jose Cardenal.

Read all about him here.

A Suburban Dad

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad contribution to Kim Strickland's City Mom blog at Chicago Now. This one is called "How do you know when beer is too much a part of your life?"

You can read it here.

The Cubs have an All-Star!

There's been a lot of speculation this year about which Cub would go to the All-Star game. Let's face it, we don't have a lot of players having all-star worthy seasons. Maybe one or two. Maybe.

But we do know one Cub that is definitely going to the all-star game.

Mike Quade.

Amos & Andy

Sixty years ago today America got their first look at Amos & Andy when the long time radio hit debuted on television.

Amos & Andy was a Chicago institution. (I've previously written about the show for Just One Bad Century, if you're interested)

Check out this video. It's the original (white) radio Amos & Andy introducing the new (black) television cast. It might make you a little uncomfortable. Let's just say it certainly isn't 1951 anymore.

The JOBC Contest

Time for this week's JOBC Contest.

The first person that e-mails me the correct answer at rick@justonebadcentury.com will win a commemorative Greg Maddux 3000th strikeout scorecard and a t-shirt from the Just One Bad Century catalog.

Here's the question, and I'll warn you it's a little obscure today: On this day in 1992, the Cubs acquired a gimpy-kneed slugger (a leftfielder) from the Los Angeles Dodgers. He only hit 4 homers for the Cubs the rest of that year and was released when the season was over. Name him.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Lydia Rypcinski knew that Kal Daniels was the slugger the Cubs acquired on this day in 1992. He was only 28 years old, and he had already hit 100 big league homers when the Cubs got him, but Kal was pretty much finished. After his stint with the Cubs he never played in the big leagues again.

Marlon Byrd's new helmet

He's finally coming back to the Cubs after that terrifying pitch to the face in Boston, but he'll be wearing a specially designed helmet instead of the usual Cubs helmet shown here.

ESPN has the details.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This one is about the tornado that hit our town this week.

You can read it here.

Tornado Town

Sorry I haven't posted since Tuesday. My town was hit by a tornado this week (on Tuesday), and though we're lucky not to have any major damage at our house, we don't have any power. I'm posting this from the library.

Thanks to all of you that inquired about me, and aw shucks, it's nice to see how many of you were worried. We're OK. Just in the dark.

Both metaphorically and literally.

I'll be back to blogging when the power returns. They say it could be a few more days.

Cubs-Sox

I know it's only one game in the midst of a lost season, but let's face it, it's always sweet to beat the White Sox.

The JOBC Contest

Time for this week's JOBC Contest.

The first person that e-mails me the correct answer at rick@justonebadcentury.com will win a commemorative Greg Maddux 3000th strikeout scorecard and a t-shirt from the Just One Bad Century catalog.

Here's the question: On this day in 2003, the Cubs traded an infielder to the Rockies. That infielder would go on to become a key member of the 2004 Red Sox team that finally broke their long World Series curse. He hit 2 HRs against the Yankees in the ALCS, and then another in the World Series against the Cardinals. Name him.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Matt Brown was the first one to e-mail me with the correct answer. Mark Bellhorn was the ex-Cub that forever became a Red Sox hero during the 2004 playoffs.

We'll have another JOBC contest next Monday.

Ryan Dempster

Cubs pitcher Ryan Dempster got roasted over the weekend...not by the Yankees, but by comedian Jeffrey Ross. (Full story is here)

I have to hand it to him, this line is pretty darn funny. "Ryan, I hope your phone is stuck on vibrate, because you're never going to have a ring."

Painful, but funny.

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. You can read it here.

Happy Father's Day to all the other fathers out there that also know nothing!

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

Got this clarification from Bob Kruchten regarding his appearance w/father and son on ESPN this weekend...

"Hello Rick - ESPN aired the piece featuring Dad, Paul and I and a 3 generation Yankees family titled 'Generational Allegience' already once on SportsCenter this morning and told that it will air a couple of times throughout the weekend on both ESPN and ESPN 2. Did not see it yet on-air. The main airing will be in Baseball Tonight prior to Sunday Night Baseball at 6 CT with the game starting at 7 CT on ESPN. Thanks for making this happen - the whole experience has been fantastic and all the credit is yours! I owe you big-time! Happy Father's Day! PS. Happy Birthday to Bridget!"

Saint Bridget

My lovely wife is celebrating a birthday today. I met her just a few weeks before her 21st birthday, and we started dating shortly after that.

This November we'll be married for twenty years.

She has put up with a lot in those twenty years (and the three years we dated before that). She put up with being a topic of conversation on four different radio shows. She put up with being the topic of the many columns I've written about her, including this one, this one, and this one. (She even wrote one for me, which she considered a horrible assignment.)

And of course, she's put up with me.

Don't know how she did it. She must be a saint.

Happy Birthday Saint Bridget!

Bob Kruchten

If you watch the pre-game show for the Cubs-Yankees game on ESPN on Sunday, you'll see my friend Bob Kruchten, along with his father and his son. ESPN contacted me a few weeks ago and asked me if I knew anyone that was a three-generation Cubs family.

My family doesn't qualify (dad didn't care about baseball), but I knew Bob would be perfect, so I recommended him. They interviewed him, and he'll be part of that show. I featured Bob on Just One Bad Century a few years ago telling some of his Cubs stories...

Gonna Use My Sidestep

When I read Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning and saw that James Honeyman Scott from the Pretenders died on this day in 1982 (heart attack caused by cocaine), it made me think of the song "Brass in Pocket" because he is featured in that video.

In the early days of MTV it was one of their most played videos, and there was one line in that song that always drove me crazy. I could never understand what in the world Chrissie Hynde was singing after "Gonna use my arms, gonna use my legs, gonna use my style, gonna use my..."

I heard it many many times over the next 29 years, and every time I heard it I listened closely to try to figure out that next word. Today, I finally quenched my thirst for an answer by looking up the darn lyrics on the internet. The answer is: "Gonna use my sidestep."

Who says that? Anyway, now I can actually enjoy the song and the video again...

37,500

I just happened to look at the "Count Up Clock" at Just One Bad Century this morning (which is continually ticking), and noticed that we've reached a bit of a milestone today.

Today is the 37,500th day since the Cubs won the World Series.

Thought you'd like to know.

The Reason I Write

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad column to Kim Strickland's City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. This week I reveal the reason I write...and yes, there is a Father's Day tie-in.

You can read it here.

Cubs players address the goat

Yesterday before the game Cubs veterans handed out shirts to their teammates that said "F*** the Goat." It's their way of confronting the ridiculous "curse."

In one way I applaud them for this. But I would be remiss if I didn't point out that it's kind of pointless to address it this season. The curse hasn't even come up because the Cubs haven't even won three games in a row all year.

In Defense of the Cubs Fan

Dave Wischnowsky writes a nice defense of the Cubs fan at the CBS-2 website.

Dave and I share a pet peeve--people who blame Cubs fans for the losing. It's a preposterous and easily disprovable theory that should be put out to pasture for good.

Do some research into the years 1946-1966. The Cubs had twenty consecutive losing seasons despite the fans staying away. It didn't help, and do you know why? Because it's not the fault of the fans. That's why.

I hear this ridiculous "it's the fans fault" argument all the time from White Sox fans and sports talk radio. They point to the White Sox fans as some sort of model for creating a championship. They stayed away, and behold! The White Sox won it all in 2005. Yes they did. After 87 years.

By that logic, let's look at the Red Sox fans. They kept going to the ballpark despite never winning it, and behold! The Red Sox won it after 86 years! That proves that the fans have to keep coming, doesn't it?

Of course not. It's a stupid argument.

It's the fault of the people that put the teams together. Period.

Blaming the fans is like blaming the caregiver for the illness of their patient. The patient was ill before the caregiver even met them. The caregivers are doing the best they can with the situation. The caregivers feel their pain, wish it would go away, and wish they could do something about it.

But they can't.

And you simply can't blame them for that.

The JOBC Contest

Time for this week's JOBC Contest.

The first person that e-mails me the correct answer at rick@justonebadcentury.com will win a commemorative Greg Maddux 3000th strikeout scorecard and a t-shirt from the Just One Bad Century catalog.

Here's the question: On this day in 1984 the Cubs acquired Rick Sutcliffe from the Cleveland Indians (along with Ron Hassey & George Frazier). Name two of the three players the Cubs gave up to get him.

UPDATE: We have a winner! Joe Cleaver was the first one to e-mail me the correct answer. He knew that the Cubs traded Joe Carter, Mel Hall & Don Schulze to get Sutcliffe.

Lots of people entered this week. Thanks for trying. We'll have another contest next Monday.

Father Knows Nothing

This week's Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. It's a musical tribute to summer vacation from the perspective of the kids, and the parents that will be home with them.

You can read (and listen to) it here.

This week in 1908, 1945

Every weekend JOBC goes back in time to the last year the Cubs won the World Series.

This week in 1908, the Republican convention comes to Chicago and nominates William Howard Taft, while the Cubs play a weekend series at the Polo Grounds in front of record crowds.

This week in 1945, a commission led by Manhattan Project scientists warn President Truman not to use a nuclear bomb against Japan, and the Cubs win 5 out of 6 against the Reds and Cardinals.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Penny Lane

My latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview has been posted. This week I spoke with Penny Lane. You may remember her from the all-female WSDM lineup in the 1970s. She has a few great stories about those days.

You can read the entire interview here.

Coming this weekend

Tomorrow morning I'll be posting my last Chicago Radio Spotlight before my summer hiatus. This week I interviewed Penny Lane. She was a part of the all-female lineup at the precursor to the Loop, WSDM, and has some great stories about that time.

At JOBC, we'll once again go back to the last week the Cubs won the pennant and the World Series, This week in 1945 and This Week in 1908.

And I'll also be posting a brand new Father Knows Nothing column. This week's contemplates the beginning of summer with all three boys home all the time.

They'll be home any minute. Is 9:30 in the morning too early to start drinking?

Bruce & Patti

The Springsteens are celebrating their 20th anniversary today. This is a nice video of just the two of them performing a song together...

(UPDATE: Whoops. Bob Dearborn e-mailed me to let me know that their anniversary was actually yesterday. Note to self: Always double check dates on Bob's almanac.)

Bruce Springsteen lyrics

Bruce Springsteen - Brilliant Disguise (with Intro Video - Bruce Springsteen Music Videos

Music Videos by VideoCure

15 reasons it's good to be a woman

This was sent to me by "BK" (a woman). It's one of those forwarded e-mail things, but there are a few here that made me laugh...


1. We got off the Titanic first.
2. We can scare male bosses with mysterious gynecological disorder excuses.
3. Taxis stop for us.
4. We don 't look like a frog in a blender when dancing.
5. No fashion faux pas we make could ever rival the Speedo.
6. We don't have to pass gas to amuse ourselves.
7. If we forget to shave, no one has to know.
8. We can congratulate our teammate without ever touching her rear end.
9. We never have to reach down every so often to make sure our privates are still there.
10. We have the ability to dress ourselves.
11. We can talk to the opposite sex without having to picture them naked.
12. If we marry someone 20 years younger, we are aware that we will look like an idiot.
13. We will never regret piercing our ears.
14. There are times when chocolate really can solve all our problems.
15. We can make comments about how silly men are in their presence because they aren't listening anyway.

Another interesting Cubs draftee

One of the players the Cubs chose in the draft this week is Garrett Schlecht.

The kid is from downstate Illinois (cough, Cardinals fan) and has a scholarship offer to play college ball at Middle Tennessee State, but that's not what caught my attention.

I speak German, and I'd like to provide a translation of what his last name "Schlecht" means in German. Are you ready for this...it means "bad."

That is so Cubs.

(No offense, kid. I'm sure you're a good player. I just had to point that out.)

Shawon Dunston's son

The Cubs not only drafted Wayne Gretzky's son, they also drafted Shawon Dunston's son. (Full story is here)

I wonder if this is the boy he was trying to pull out of the baby seat when he hurt his back during his Cubs career. (That's a true story--Dunston was once sent to the DL after straining his back messing with a kid's baby seat)

Uh oh, Gracey

One website you never want to be featured on is TMZ.

Mark Grace is there this morning. He was busted for a DUI.

Ralph Kiner

Today's Tale from a Bad Century is about the Cubs career of the legendary Ralph Kiner.

You can read all about him here.

The Best Time to Visit My House

My weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow has been posted. In it I identify the three hour weekly window it's safe to visit my house.

You can read it here.

Gretzky's Son

This is one of the more interesting draft choices the Cubs selected in the draft this week. They chose Wayne Gretzky's son Trevor, a high school catcher-first baseman.

His story is here.

(Photo: Getty Images)

The logo says it all

Get yours here.

Losing Streaks

If this Cubs eight game losing streak feels familiar, there's a good reason why. It's the eighth time in the last twenty years that they've lost eight in a row (1992, 1996, 2000, 2001, twice in 2005, 2006, and 2009).

This is nothing. Their record is 14 games. The MLB record is 19.

I think this Cubs team has what it takes to be truly historic. C'mon boys! Let's go out and there and make history. It shouldn't be too hard. Every team you play is better than you are.

Want Ads

40 years ago today it was the #1 song in the country. Here are the Honey Cone performing it on Soul Train...

Draft Day

Yesterday was draft day for MLB, and the Cubs had a pretty good draft slot (#9 overall). Going into the draft I figured that they had so many needs they couldn't possibly make a bad pick at that slot. Just pick the best player available, as long as it's not a shortstop--because Starlin Castro is only 21.

They picked a shortstop.

I'm really starting to believe that the Cubs are the subject of longest and most successful "Candid Camera" show in history. Are the rest of you watching this on a secret channel that Cubs fans are blocked from seeing? I bet it's hilarious.

The JOBC Contest

Time for this week's JOBC Contest.

The first person that e-mails me the correct answer at rick@justonebadcentury.com will win a commemorative Greg Maddux 3000th strikeout scorecard, an autographed copy of the excellent baseball novel "The Pitch" (by Hank Owens), plus a t-shirt from the Just One Bad Century catalog.

Here's the question: Baseball's Amateur Draft was held on this day in 2006. Among the players chosen in the first round that year were Tim Lincecum, Evan Longoria, and Clayton Kershaw. Who did the Cubs pick?

UPDATE: WE HAVE A WINNER! Al Vance was the first to e-mail me that Tyler Colvin was the player the Cubs chose in the first round of the 2006 Amateur Draft.

Colvin's current stats this year: 77 at bats, 4 runs, 7 hits, 2 homers, 8 RBI, and a batting average of .091.

Ed Sullivan

His final show was on this day in 1971, exactly 40 years ago. It was canceled after 23 years on the air. During that time Ed became one of the most unlikely showcases for rock and roll. There were some truly incredible performances on his show, including performances from the biggest stars of all...

The Beatles

AND

Elvis Presley

Four Words

DON'T

PITCH

TO

PUJOLS

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "The Hidden Advantages of Having a Dog".

You can read it here.

This week in 1908, 1945

Every weekend at JOBC we close our eyes tight, pretend the present isn`t as painful as it is, and go back in time to the last year the Cubs won the pennant and the World Series.

This week in 1908, the city of Chicago decides to change it's street numbering system (to the way it is today), and Mordecai Brown throws a one-hitter.

This week in 1945, the Allies capture Nazi loot and criminals, Marilyn Monroe turns 19, and the Cubs paint their reddish-brown scoreboard green--which it remains to to this day.

Chicago Radio Spotlight: Jim Moran

My latest Chicago Radio Spotlight interview has been posted. This weekend I spoke with veteran traffic reporter Jim Moran.

You can read it here.

Coming this weekend

Tomorrow I'll be posting a new Chicago Radio Spotlight interview. This week I'll speak to veteran traffic reporter Jim Moran about his career in radio (and politics).

Of course, as always, we'll take a trip back in time this weekend at Just One Bad Century to this week in 1908 and 1945.

And, I've got a new Father Knows Nothing column that will be posted on Sunday. This weekend's column is called "The Hidden Benefits of Dog Ownership" and it's about the things I've learned over this last year since Ivy joined the family. (And don't worry, tongue will be planted firmly in cheek)

Have a great weekend!

Holtzman's No-No

On this day, exactly 40 years ago, Ken Holtzman pitched his second no-hitter for the Cubs. He did it in Cincinnati in front of just over 11,000 fans.

In the Reds lineup that day; Hal McRae, Tommy Helms, Lee May, Johnny Bench, George Foster, Tony Perez, and Dave Concepcion. Not too shabby.

The Cubs scored an unearned run in the top of the third, and it was Holtzman himself that scored it. He reached base on an error by Tony Perez and scored on a Glenn Beckert single.

Holtzman struck out six, including Johnny Bench (once), George Foster (once), and Dave Concepcion (twice). He also struck out Tommy Helms and Lee May for the last two outs of the game.

That big win brought the Cubs three games under .500, and 8 1/2 games behind the first place Cardinals. The Pirates would eventually win the division and the World Series that year.

Paint it Black

#1 45 years ago today...

The Cubs finances

Are the Cubs having financial troubles?

According to baseball's debt rules, yes they are.

Great. Just great.

Sights & Sounds

This week's Sights & Sounds at JOBC features video of Bill Veeck at Wrigley Field, and audio of a Landecker & The Legends song called "Baseball's Striking Again" (about the 1994/1995 baseball strike)

Watch and listen here.

Charlie Watts

He's 70 years old today. That's right, 70! Here's an interview of Charlie from 1973. He talks about Chicago Blues, among other things...

Greg Jarrett

Some pretty cool behind the scenes stuff with WGN morning man Greg Jarrett as he sings "Take Me Out to the Ballgame" at Wrigley yesterday.

(If you'd like to read my Chicago Radio Spotlight interview with Jarrett from last year, click here.)

The Fork

Sorry optimistic Cub fans, I held off the fork as long as I could. Look at it this way...at least we stayed in it until June.

But there's no getting around it. It's time to put a fork in it. This season is done. When you get swept by the worst team in the National League, you are officially the new worst team in the National League.

Enjoy watching the kids play the rest of the year. Maybe there will be hope for the coming seasons. Until then, we once again say..."Wait til next year."