Capone Convicted

Exactly 80 years ago today...Al Capone was convicted of tax evasion.

Chicago has been crime-free ever since.

The Billy Goat

There's quite a bit of background about William Sianis and the Billy Goat in this article.

I knew about the Cubs game portion of this story, but hadn't heard about what happened with the goat and Sianis in the eleven years before the Cubs incident. It's pretty interesting if you're into Chicago history.

Father Knows Nothing

My latest Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "The Little Brother Protector (Patent Pending)"

You can read it here.

1957

My ongoing writing project continues. I'm writing the history of Green White Soccer Club (a club that my father co-founded in 1956) one year at a time.

This is 1957.

Da Coach

Bob Newhart

Bob is coming to town this weekend, and in this interview with Dean Richards he fondly recalls greeting the pennant winning 1945 Cubs.

Trampoline Exploits

Somebody was obviously rolling tape last time I hit the trampoline gym...stole all my moves....

The Economy and The Cubs

Interesting take on the U.S. economy from Marketwatch writer Al Lewis.

He says it's just like the Chicago Cubs.

Woodpecker Warrior

My weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow is about my ongoing battle with a neighborhood woodpecker. You can read it here.

Disco Duck

I've always felt like I missed something by not being in America during the Bicentennial. My family lived in Germany and we never stepped foot in the U.S.A. for the entire year of 1976. Then again, I'm happy I wasn't around for this. It was the #1 hit in the country on this day in 1976. Amazing.

Theo to the Cubs

According to this AP report (via the Huffington Post), it's a done deal.

I know we've all been burned before, but if the Cubs really have hired a young whiz kid that already won two World Series in another city that had waited for many decades before winning one...I'm not going to let any negativity bum me out about this.

This is a good thing for the Cubs.

Hymie Weiss

85 years ago today Chicago gangster Hymie Weiss was gunned down right outside of Holy Name Cathedral in Chicago.

The bullet holes are still there.

That location, by the way, is featured in my upcoming novel "The Living Wills". (Details coming soon!)

Marlins Interested in Zambrano

So says a Miami television station.

Of course, Ozzie is the manager in Miami now, and he and his fellow Venezuelan have always gotten along well.

This may help land our new general manager. One less potential headache.

Good Vibrations

"Good Vibrations" was released exactly 45 years ago today. This video from 35 years ago features the Beach Boys performing it live (including Brian Wilson, who almost never made appearances with the band in those days), and it also has some footage from Brian's birthday party that year. Among the guests in the room; Paul and Linda McCartney...

Redd Foxx

Robert Feder's column this morning is about a new Redd Foxx biography, and it sounds like a good one. I had no idea that Foxx grew up in Chicago and went to high school with Harold Washington. The book also goes into his early show biz career, which I don't know a lot about. I may just have to pick this book up. Do they have still bookstores anywhere in your neighborhood?

I always considered Foxx a multi-talented performer. I still remember this Sanford & Son episode when he showed he could sing. He sounds just like Louis Armstrong.

Was that Theo Epstein?

The Chicago Tribune discusses the rumor that Epstein was spotted this weekend in Lincoln Park.

Father Knows Nothing

My latest Father Knows Nothing column has been posted at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "Do the voices, Dad, do the voices."

You can read it here.

Got to Be There

According to Bob Dearborn's The Olde Disc Jockey's Almanac this morning, Michael Jackson released his first solo record on this day exactly forty years ago.

I have to admit, I don't remember this one at all. Do you?

Should Epstein Come To Chicago?

Two ESPN.com writers debate the pros and cons.

Also, ESPN Radio's Marc Silverman begs him to come, via video.

A Fifth of Beethoven

Beethoven meets disco. Believe it or not, this was the #1 song in the country exactly 35 years ago today...

RIP Bear Tracks

His nickname was Bear Tracks, but his actual name was Johnny Schmitz.

He was a member of the Cubs during some of their darkest days, but Schmitz was also one of their best players. He actually won 18 games (and appeared in the All-Star game) for one of their worst teams of all-time, the 1948 Cubs. So of course, they traded him.

Bear Tracks passed away this weekend in Wisconsin at the age of 90.

Bartman Night is Cancelled

The Dayton Gems minor league hockey team announced and planned a Steve Bartman night at their pre-season game October 14th. The idea was to leave a ticket at the box office for Bartman, and to allow anyone dressed as Bartman to come in for free.

It sounds like Bartman's people were less than thrilled with the idea.

It will no longer be a Steve Bartman night.

Hit the Road Jack

This was the #1 song in America exactly 50 years ago today. It stands the test of time, don't you think?

Hank Jr. & The Dixie Chicks

My weekly Suburban Dad contribution to the City Mom blog at ChicagoNow has been posted. This week's is about the Hank Williams Jr. controversy, and how much it reminds me of the Dixie Chicks story from several years ago. That story had a direct impact on my life.

Read it here.

Cubs Ask Permission To Speak To Espstein

So says the Boston Globe's Dan Shaughnessy, who is about as clued in as anyone.

This is beginning to get very interesting.

Bleeding Cubbie Blue

A song that attempts to explain the self torture of being a Cubs fan...

Free $everance?

Until Nov. 15, my $everance publisher ENC Press is offering a free download of $everance as an e-book (PDF). For details, visit their page - www.facebook.com/ENCPress - and click on the Welcome tab under their profile pic.

Steve Bartman Night?

Looks like the "Catching Hell" special on ESPN is having repercussions in the hockey world too. A minor league hockey team in Fort Wayne is having a Steve Bartman night. They're leaving a ticket for him at the gate, and anyone who dresses like Bartman (from that infamous night) will get in free.

Somehow, I don't think Bartman would approve.

Details are here.

Theo Is "Very Interested"

That's Theo Epstein, the general manager that brought the Boston Red Sox two World Series championships in the past seven years after they had ZERO for the previous 86 years. And the thing he's allegedly "very interested" in is the Cubs general manager job.

Sign him up now. I'm serious.

I have friends that live in the Boston area and they've soured on Theo, and blame him for the demise of the team this past year, but it seems to me that they've got a ridiculously short memory in Boston. They've already fired the manager of those two championship teams, and now they're ready for the GM to leave too.

We'll take them both off your hands.

We already know what Francona would look like wearing a Cubs hat...

Father Knows Nothing

I just posted my latest Father Knows Nothing column at NWI Parent. This week's column is called "Hand-Me-Downs".

You can read it here.

Final picture from Italy

This is the last picture I'm going to post from my Italy trip. (I'm saving a half dozen or so for the magazine articles I'm writing).

This is Pesaro's fountain at night. We left six hours after this picture was taken.

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Urbino...

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Fano...

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Loreto.

The Streets of Italy

The thing that I really found interesting in this part of Italy was how narrow the streets were. This one was in Pesaro.

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Cubs on Catalina Island

From 1921-1951, the Cubs had their spring training on Catalina Island...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

The Ceilings of Italy

After spending time in Italy, I realized that I've been wasting all the ceiling space in my home by painting them plain white.

This might be another way to go...

Legless Torso Book Promotion

I just posted my weekly Suburban Dad contribution to Kim Strickland's City Mom blog at ChicagoNow. This week's column is about the unique way I handled the challenges of book promotion when my first novel came out.

You can read it here.

Bridget in Italy

In Pesaro at night, with her husband.

Bridget in Italy

At the old Roman wall in Fano...

Bridget in Italy

On one of Pesaro's wide streets. Yes, cars did drive here...

Bridget in Italy

Overlooking the Adriatic...

Catching Hell

If you saw "Catching Hell" last night on ESPN, you saw a moment in our history that wasn't exactly Cubs fans finest hour. I actually thought the filmmaker did a really nice (and fair) job of capturing the zeitgeist. One of the participants in the program was Fox 32's Dane Placko--and they asked him to participate because they saw this video on my website Just One Bad Century...

Meatloaf

Happy birthday Meatloaf. He's 64 years old today...

Urbino

A 15th century city (and birthplace of Raphael) that is completely intact...

Acqualagna

Took this one during our truffle hunt (full story of that day to come).

Italian Roads, Take Me Home

Granted, we weren't exactly in the highest population centers of Italy, but this is pretty typical of the roads we traveled on the entire time we were there.

Mornings on the Adriatic

Took this one as we prepared to get on the bus for an excursion...

Pesaro, Italy

This is an outside wall, and no, it's not attached to a library...

Fano

An arch built by the Roman Emperor Augustus around two thousand years ago. The original etchings are still on the wall...

Loreto

The Basilica behind me was built around the birth home of the Virgin Mary, brought back to Italy during the Crusades. The church was only 700 years old. The fountain was only 500 years old.

An Italian Vineyard

We had an amazing lunch here last week in the hills above Fano, Italy. The food was delicious. The wine was incredible. Yes, that's right, wine for lunch. And lots of it...

The Italian Riviera

This was the view from my hotel room in Pesaro, Italy last week...

Rube Waddell

This is finally the last merciful week of the baseball season, so this is the last week of stories to come from Just One Bad Century.

The final Cubs Hall of Famer for the season is Rube Waddell.

Father Knows Nothing

Just got back from Italy, and this week's Father Knows Nothing column is about the very strange circumstances surrounding the day I left Chicago. It's called "An Italian Birthday."

You can read it here.

Italia

I'm on assignment this week in the Marche region of Italy, which is along the Adriatic. (Seriously, I am. Who knew this writing thing could be so fun...er...I mean grueling.)

I'll be here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, here, and here.

I'll be back this coming weekend.

Coming soon: An official announcement about my second novel. Until then, Ciao!

(P.S. That photo is not taken in Italy. It's at Elvis' grave at Graceland. It's the closest I could find to a religious picture--I'll be seeing lots of churches in Italy.)

This week at Just One Bad Century

I'm out of the country this week, but just because I'm gone, and the Cubs haven't shown up for months, doesn't mean that we aren't still going strong at Just One Bad Century.

We'll still have our weekly Cubs Hall of Famer: Bruce Sutter

We'll still have our weekly Great Nickname: The Rajah

We'll still have two Tales from a Bad Century: Bill Veeck Jr. and Norman Rockwell Nails the Cubs

We'll still feature Sights & Sounds

And of course, go back This Week in 1908, and This Week in 1945.

But even more importantly, our souvenir stand remains open, and wouldn't you like to buy one of our snazzy shirts or hats?

That's what I thought: Buy those here.