What a Cubs World Series Means to Me

I've been struggling to put into words the emotions that are swirling inside me this week. Everyone has been asking me the same question. How does it feel to see the Cubs in the World Series?

After pondering it a few days, I've come to the conclusion that the feeling is not really a communal one. It's a deeply personal one, and it's different for every life long Cubs fan.

This is what it means to me.

For me, a Cubs World Series makes me think, first and foremost, about my Uncle Manny (that's him in the middle of the family photo). He's the one that made me a Cubs fan. He took me to my first game in 1968. And he took me whenever he could after that. He moved away from Chicago, but when Uncle Manny came back to town, we made the trek back to Wrigley. We always sat in the same spot, in the right field bleachers. In the early 70s, that got me closest to my favorite player, Jose Cardenal. (Unfortunately, it also introduced me to Ronnie Woo Woo. I can still hear that perpetual "Jose. Woo Woo. Jose. Woo Woo")

My family moved to Germany in 1974 and didn't return until 1980, but during those years I bought the Stars & Stripes newspaper and continued to follow the Cubs via box scores. I tried to imagine what was going on in my beloved Chicago and my beloved Wrigley Field through the statistics in the paper. Bill Madlock was leading the league in hitting! Rick Reuschel just won his 20th game! When I turned 12, I wanted a Cubs shirt but they were simply not available in Germany, so my mom and I made one out of a plain white t-shirt. I had two of them. One had #1 for Jose. The other had #26 for Billy Williams.

When we moved back to Chicago from Germany, I hopped right back on the Cubs bandwagon. When Uncle Manny came to town we went to the games together. In those pre-1984 days, it was still possible to get our right field bleacher seats.

I was in college in 1984. That was a magical season for the Cubs. I made the pilgrimage from Champaign to Chicago for opening day that year. I was covering the game for WPGU Radio and I never felt more like a big shot. I talked to Harry Caray on the field. He predicted a Cubs championship that day, and everyone in the press laughed out loud. Not me. I believed it. And I believed it even more when the Cubs pounded the Mets rookie phenom Dwight Gooden. I also made a life-long friend that day. My companion on that trip was Dane Placko. He was the guy who scored us the press passes, and our Cubbie bond exists to this day. We share our season ticket plan.

In June of 1984, I went to one of the greatest games in Wrigley history...



My Cubs innocence, however, was lost in October of that year. I was part of an impromptu parade down Green Street in Champaign when the Cubs clinched the division. I skipped class to watch Game 1 and Game 2 at Wrigley Field. But I also was watching the moment that Steve Garvey hit that home run in Game 4. It's a moment that is etched in my memory banks forever. As Steve Garvey was rounding the bases, my Sox fan friends Stu and Dave high-fived each other over my head. It's a story I chronicled in the book "Cubbie Blues: 100 Years of Waiting Until Next Year", if you want a more graphic description of it.

It changed me as a Cubs fan. I began to expect the worst, and I got exactly what I expected in 1989. In 2003, I left game 7 of the NLCS before it ended--because I could smell the defeat approaching.

Nevertheless, in 1995, when my first son Tommy was born, I began to mold him into a Cubs fan. When Johnny arrived a few years later, he was also indoctrinated. My goal was to create a Cubs-bond with them that would equal mine with Uncle Manny.



Even though neither Tommy nor Johnny became a die-hard fan, I still probably had my favorite day ever as a father with each of them (individually). Tommy and I saw the Paul McCartney concert at Wrigley together in 2011, and it was an emotional moment for both of us. (It's featured in the book "Father Knows Nothing") Johnny and I had this great day at Wrigley Field together.

When son #3 Sean came along, he somehow naturally became a Cubs fan without my pushing him. We've been to dozens of games together over the years (including this absolutely perfect day), and I don't think I can even begin to explain how much these days meant to me. His Cubs love really kicked in during the 2008 season.

That year, I also began writing my blog Just One Bad Century, and I wrote a hopeful song, begging for the agony to end...



When the playoffs began, Channel 2 sent over a news crew to interview me...



And then when the Cubs blew it again, I hit my lowest point as a Cubs fan.

The following season I took out an ad in the newspaper, sarcastically announcing the birth of "Waitle Nex Year" on the day I felt the Cubs were officially out of it. It somehow went viral when Deadspin wrote about it. Mary Schmich interviewed me for her Tribune column.

Even though I was becoming somewhat cynical, I still had some good Cubbie moments during the dark days...

I met Ernie Banks.

I met Jose Cardenal.

I saw the Kerry Wood 20 strikeout game.

I set the best chapter of my novel "$everance" at Wrigley Field.

I went on the field with Sean during family day.

I wrote about Every Cubs Player Ever.

But there was also a sad day during this time, and it brings me back to the first thing I thought about when the Cubs clinched their spot in the World Series.

Uncle Manny died.

At the time, the Cubs rebuild looked like a pipe dream.

He lived 69 years and never saw his favorite team in the World Series. Our favorite team.

So, when I say this Cubs World Series is not really a communal experience, that's what I mean. To every one of us it's a very personal moment. Wrigley Field will be filled with over 40,000 fellow Cub fans who are all experiencing their personal moments together.

Millions more (including me) will be watching it on television or listening to it on the radio.

I'll enjoy seeing this incredible bunch of players ending that long drought. I'll cheer when they score, and I'll be there in the moment--win or lose.

But I'll also be looking skyward and raising a toast to Uncle Manny, and all the other wonderful people who never got to see this day.

Sorry for the long-winded response to your question, but that's what a Cubs World Series means to me.

Indians Fans Bring Goats to Game to Further the Curse

I get why they're doing it. It's kind of "ha ha" cute.

But it ain't gonna work.

The main reason for that is obvious--the whole goat curse is ridiculous.

Chicago Radio Ratings

From Tom Taylor's NOW column...

Chicago has no trouble choosing a 6+ favorite this time, and it’s CBS all-newser WBBM/WCFS (6.1-6.0-6.8). Last month ’BBM was tied with iHeart’s urban AC WVAZ, which is second now (6.0-6.0-5.8). WBBM takes all dayparts except for afternoons (second) and nights (tied for second). “V103” WVAZ wins PM drive and nights. As is often the case, Hubbard’s hot AC “Mix” WTMX is third (5.5-5.2-4.9, and #2 in mornings with Eric & Kathy). iHeart’s top 40 “Kiss 103.5” WKSC ranks fourth total-week, 4.5-4.8-4.4 (and third afternoons and weekends). Improving from eighth place to fifth is Tribune’s talk WGN (3.8-3.7-4.3, and third in mornings). The Cubs were in the midst of their pennant stretch for CBS Radio’s sports “Score” WSCR (3.7-4.5-4.2). It’s #2 at nights, where a lot of baseball got played. Hubbard’s classic rock “Drive” WDRV steadily improves (3.6-3.8-4.0). It’s now third middays. Neither country station loves this book – not CBS Radio’s “US 99” WUSN (2.9-2.8-2.5) and not iHeart’s “Big” WEBG (2.5-2.7-2.2). An over-performing low power Channel 6 TV signal that Weigel LMAs as easy oldies WRME scratches out another gain (2.0-2.3-2.4). That ties it with CBS classic hits WJMK (2.6-2.3-2.4) and Hubbard’s AC WSHE (2.4-2.5-2.4). Cumulus talker WLS edges up 2.0-2.1-2.2, and it’s fourth in middays, where Rush Limbaugh holds forth. A crescendo for Window to the World-owned commercial-classical WFMT (1.4-1.6-1.8). Top 40 “Kiss” holds the lead in cume at 2,367,700.

The Washington Post Nails It

I'm probably just a fan of this column by Catherine Rampell because it's almost the exact same point I made yesterday, but it's very good. Here's an excerpt...

It is, after all, the right-wing radio, TV and Internet fever swamps that have gotten them into this mess, that have led to massive misinformation, disinformation and cynicism among Republican voters. And draining those fever swamps is the only way to get them out of it.

For a sense of just how misinformed Republican voters have become, consider a few of the provably wrong things many believe.

Seven in 10 Republicans either doubt or completely disbelieve that President Obama was born in the United States. Six in 10 think he’s a secret Muslim. Half believe global warming is possibly or definitely a myth concocted by scientists.

Among just Trump voters, 7 in 10 believe government economic data are fabricated. Half don’t trust that votes will be counted accurately in the November election.

Republicans and Trump backers didn’t come to these conclusions independently. They learned them from the influential TV, radio and Web outfits whose imprimaturs Republican politicians desperately seek, and whose more troubling content these politicians have been reluctant to criticize.

The news you wish was happening is not news. When it's presented as if it's true, and nobody on your side of the aisle points out that it's crazy, the public will believe it. When you do it for twenty years (which is how long Fox News has been relevant now), it might be too late to fix it.

Harry on Kimmel

Pat Colander in Indiana

Drew a nice crowd yesterday in Indiana. Eckhartz Press author Pat Colander did a reading yesterday at South Shore Arts Center in Munster, Indiana from her book Hugh Hefner's First Funeral and other True Tales of Love and Death in Chicago.

Here are a few pictures of her in action...





Her book is a finalist for 2016 Book of the Year by the Chicago Writer's Association, and of course, it's availale at Eckhartz Press. Click here.

Bill Murray Perfectly Sums Up What This Feels Like

John Oliver Taunts Trump

For those of you keeping score at home

Beautifully detailed scorecard gives @Cubs historic win the treatment it deserves https://t.co/Me4w83WJ9r pic.twitter.com/N4EpUSkFyB

— Chicago magazine (@ChicagoMag) October 24, 2016

RIP Bobby Vee

He passed away at the age of 73.

I was fortunate enough to meet and talk to Bobby Vee during my WJMK days. Super down to earth, great guy. And he had one of the greatest show biz starts in history.

He took the stage for the first time as a fill-in for a rock star who couldn't make it to the show. The rock star was Buddy Holly, and the reason he couldn't make it was the plane crash that took his life.

Among the people who later played in the band with Bobby Vee was another future famous Bobby: Bob Dylan.

This is my favorite Bobby Vee tune...

Conservative Media Reckoning

This is a great article that I think really points the finger at what caused Trump in the first place. Conservative talk show host John Ziegler is quoted extensively in this morning's Business Insider...

“I find it rather ironic that most Republicans claim to be ardent capitalists, because if politics was like an investment issue, on November 9 there would be a whole lot of people who would lose their jobs and careers forever,” the talk show host said.

“If someone said there was no chance of a crash in the financial industry and it turns out there was a massive crash, the marketplace takes care of that,” Ziegler continued. “Those people are done. And their influence in the future becomes greatly diminished if not eviscerated.”

In this case, however, Ziegler warned that “those who were wrong [in 2016] have an enormous power to control the narrative.”

“Drudge, Breitbart, Hannity, Bill O’Reilly, [Laura] Ingraham — those people are completely invested in another false narrative to cover up the first false narrative,” he said. “[A]nd if there’s one thing I have ever learned in life, it is far easier to dupe people than to convince them that they have been duped.”

That last line is pure brilliance.

I've been saying this for years. When people don't have to read, hear or see actual news, and instead they can read, see or hear the news they wish was true, you are doomed as a democracy. The job of the press is to tell us what is actually happening.

The mainstream press is still bound by journalistic standards. They are reporters--news gatherers. They may be personally liberal (nearly all of them probably lean that way based on my experience), but they don't ignore reality. They still hunt the big story. They live for those scoops. It's in their DNA. They would never cover up a big scoop just because it goes against their politics. To believe that is to willfully ignore the essence of what makes a reporter.

But half of the country now believes that the mainstream press is only interested in pushing a political agenda. They think the system is rigged because their candidate is getting hammered. So, they only listen to their own openly-partisan media, who is telling them not to believe the actual press.

But here's the thing: It's not media bias to focus more on the insane things Trump says (pushing conspiracy theories as facts) than on the details of John Podesta's hacked e-mails. One is potentially going to be the president, and is causing the United States to be a punchline all over the world. The other shows a political organization acting politically. Unseemly, yes. Calculated, yes. Surprising--not in the slightest.

The mainstream press has the ratio just right.

Talking Cubs on WGN Radio

Had a great time on WGN Radio last night with Brian Noonan.

You can listen to it here.

My portion of the show begins at the 13 minute mark. Surprise guest caller John Landecker joins in the discussion a few minutes later.

I brought Sean along to see the radio studio. Unlike his brothers, Sean did not grow up in a radio studio. He was just a baby when my radio career ended, so he really wanted to see it. He even took the photos of me and Brian...

17 Celeb Cub Fans

There are many more than that, of course, but these 17 celebrated on social media.

My favorite tweet is the one from Bob Newhart.

AT&T Wants to Merge with Time Warner?

They've already made the offer, but this cannot be allowed to take place, can it?

The telecom giant already controls the following landline companies...
BellSouth Telecommunications (formerly known as Southern Bell; includes former South Central Bell)
Illinois Bell
Indiana Bell
Michigan Bell
Ohio Bell
Pacific Bell (formerly Pacific Telephone & Telegraph)
Nevada Bell (formerly known as Bell Telephone Company of Nevada)
Southwestern Bell
Wisconsin Bell (formerly Wisconsin Telephone

They already own DirecTV; the leader in satellite television. They are one of the biggest cable companies.

And now they want to purchase the leading company in content, Time Warner. Time Warner owns...

HBO
Cinemax
HBO Multiplexes
HBO on Demand
Cinemax Multiplexes
Cinemax on Demand
HBO Home Entertainment
HBO Domestic and International Program Distribution
HBO Films
HBO Miniseries
HBO Sports
HBO Entertainment
HBO Documentary Films
HBO International
HBO Asia
HBO Europe
HBO Hungary
HBO India
HBO Poland
HBO Romania
HBO Latin America Group
HBO Latin America
HBO Brazil
Warner Channel
E! Latin America
Cinemax Latin America
Turner Broadcasting International
Millennium Media Group
Turner Broadcasting System Latin America
Chilevisión
Telefe
Turner Entertainment Networks
truTV
TBS
TNT
TCM
WPCH
truTV Original Productions
TCM Productions
Turner Sports
NASCAR Races
Turner Sports & Entertainment Digital Network
Bleacher Report
NCAA.com
March Madness Live
PGA.com
NBA Digital (joint venture with the NBA)
NBA TV
NBA.com
NBA LEAGUE PASS
NBA Mobile
NBA Game Time App
NBADLEAGUE.com
WNBA.com
Esporte Interativo (Brazil)
Turner Entertainment Digital Network
The Smoking Gun
Universal Wrestling Corporation (formerly World Championship Wrestling, Inc. - assets now owned by WWE, Inc.)
TBS, Inc. Animation, Young Adults & Kids Media (AYAKM) division
Cartoon Network
Adult Swim
Boomerang
Cartoon Network Studios
Cartoon Network Development Studio Europe
Williams Street
CNN News Group
CNN U.S.
HLN
CNN en Español
KBEH (co-owned by Viacom)
CNN International
CNN Originals
HLN Productions
CNN Digital Network
CNNMoney
iReport
CNN Mobile
CNN Newsource
CNN ImageSource
CNN Wire
Turner Private Networks
CNN Airport
AccentHealth Waiting Room Television Network
Turner Inflight Services
Amtrak Acela Network
Dealer Entertainment Network - with TCG Enterprises, Inc,
The Checking Network
International
TCM & Cartoon Network / Asia Pacific
Cartoonito
TNT Latin America
Pogo
Retro
Space
MuchMusic Latin America
I.Sat
HTV
Turner Japan K.K. (formerly Japan Entertainment Network K.K. and Japan Image Communications Co.,Ltd.)
Cartoon Network
TABI Channel
MONDO TV
Joint Ventures
CNN Chile
CETV
CNN-IBN
CNNj
CNN TÜRK
CNN.co.jp (Japanese)
n-tv
Zee Turner Ltd (India)
Boing
Websites/Broadband Services
CallToons
Play On! Powered by ACC Select
Super Deluxe
TNT Overtime
SI.com
PGA Tour.com and PGA.com
NASCAR.com
Bamzu.com
Warner Bros. Consumer Products
Warner Bros. Theatre Ventures
Warner Bros. Pictures International
Warner Bros. International Cinemas
DC Entertainment
DC Comics
Mad (magazine)
Vertigo (DC Comics)
Warner Bros. Digital Networks
DramaFever
Warner Bros. Pictures Group
New Line Cinema
Turner Entertainment Co.
Warner Bros. Pictures
Music
Domestic Distribution
Castle Rock Entertainment
Warner Bros. Television Group
Warner Bros. Television
Warner Horizon Television
Warner Bros. Television Distribution
Warner Bros. International Television
Warner Bros. Television Productions UK
Eyeworks
Telepictures
Alloy Entertainment
The CW (50% with CBS Corporation)
The CW Plus
The CW Daytime
CW Seed
Warner Bros. Animation
Hanna-Barbera (In Name-only unit)
Looney Tunes
WB Kids
Warner Bros. Television Media to Go (online)
Warner Home Video
Warner Bros. Family Entertainment
Warner Bros. Interactive Entertainment
Monolith Productions
NetherRealm Studios
Rocksteady Studios
TT Games
Turbine (company)
WB Games Montréal
WB Games San Francisco
Hulu (10%) (in partnership with 21st Century Fox, Comcast and The Walt Disney Company)
Global Media Group
Time Warner Medialab
Time Warner Investments - venture capital unit
Adaptly
Bluefin Labs
Conviva
CrowdStar
Dynamic Signal
Double Fusion
Everyday Health
Exent
Gaia Online
tvtag previously as GetGlue
NuvoTV
Simulmedia
Tremor Video
Trion Worlds
VisibleWorld

Do I really need to point out why it's important not to let media companies gain control of the flow of information ....AGAIN?

See $everance for more information.

SNL on Debate 3

RIP Herb Kent

The Cool Gent, Herb Kent, passed away this weekend at the age of 88.

He did his radio show on V-103 the day before he passed. That seems only fitting.

Illinois Entertainer tells the story of Herb's incredible career.

Did this really just happen?

Here's how I know it did.

The only person I know who is a bigger Cubs fan than me. My college buddy Dane Placko in a moment of abandoning his journalistic play-it-down-the-middle objectivity.



I had 137 texts on my phone last night, including that photo from Dane.

Apparently, I've been a little vocal about my Cubs love over the last four decades or so.

Pinching myself.

Kathleen Parker

Every now and then I read a newspaper column that wows me, not for the brilliance of the writer's point of view, but just for the sheer brilliance of the writing. Kathleen Parker's column today about the Donald Trump appearance at the Al Smith dinner has a few passages that are simply great.

The first one is about Maria Bartiromo, who was sitting right behind the speakers...

No one watching could have missed the cleavage clad in candy apple red beneath long sparkling earrings, as Bartiromo’s elbow-length gloves fluttered like white doves directing traffic to the heart of things. A flickering female vision floating in the TV frame among four, dusty-white males, the television journalist appeared as one of those online ads that distract readers as they try to concentrate.

Absolutely love that. The second passage I love was about Trump's supporters watching on television...

To them, the dais was a diorama of self-congratulatory elites, smugly tittering at insider humor and then, suddenly, betraying white-tie outrage at their redneck Gatsby, who hocked up his couth and hurled it into the nearest vat of Dom Perignon.

And finally, about Trump himself...

Like Gollum, he loathes what he loves and can’t resist sabotaging himself. Like Capote, he turns on his own. If Capote alienated all his “swans,” the belles of Upper East Side New York, by betraying their confidences in “La Cote Basque, 1965,” Trump betrayed the hopes of his powerful and wealthy colleagues that he could be trusted to behave.

Bravo. Really. Seriously. That's some great writing there.

One More Spin

Fingers crossed this weekend. C'mon Cubs.

Bill Murray's Dilemma

On Sunday night Bill Murray is scheduled to receive the Mark Twain Prize for Humor at the Kennedy Center in Washington, the highest award in the comedy world.

On the same night, the Cubs could be playing in Game 7 of the NLCS. Murray hasn't missed any of the playoff games in Chicago...and this one could lead them to the World Series for the first time since 1945.

I know what I would do. I would pray for a Cubs win in Game 6.*

*Of course, I'm already doing that.

SAG-AFTRA goes on strike versus video game companies

The details are here in the LA Times.

As the only non-gamer in my family, and the only SAG-AFTRA member, I feel vindicated somehow.

Debate Ratings

How many people watched that third debate? The "I'll see if I accept the outcome" debate?

71.6 million.

I was not among that group. The Cubs were on.

Eckhartz Synergy

See if you can't find the Eckhartz Press synergy in this item in Robert Feder's column this morning...

Chicago radio veteran Katherine Kelly Murphy has signed on as executive producer of “Brandwidth on Demand,” the weekly radio insiders’ podcast hosted by eminent programmers and consultants David Martin and Kipper McGee. Murphy, former operations manager at Harpo Radio and news anchor for “FM News 101.1,” most recently was morning show exec producer at CBS Radio country WUSN FM 99.5. Special guest this week on “Brandwidth on Demand” is Chicago rock radio legend Bobby Skafish, author of We Have Company: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Encounters.

See it? Kipper McGee (co-host of the Brandwidth podcast) is also the author of the book "Brandwidth", which spawned the podcast. And Bobby Skafish's new book is an Eckhartz Press product too.

Minutia Men, Episode 25

EP25 – Rick and Dave discuss medical mishaps, Rock and Roll Hall of Fame snubs, bad airplane stories, the 1908 Cubs, and Rick’s brush with White Sox legend Minnie Minoso.

Listen to it here.

Bruce Bohrer on WCIU

A few photos from Eckhartz Press author Bruce Bohrer's appearance on WCIU-TV this morning...

Rizzo Apologizes to Ump

Love this...

Kevin Matthews Interviews Bobby Skafish

Two Chicago radio legends (Kevin Matthews and Bobby Skafish) talk about the business and Bobby's great new book.

Listen to it here.

Rick On WCIU

Told a little Cubs trivia, revealed one of our JOBC shirts...

Megyn Kelly Will Dish About Ailes in Her Upcoming Book

From Vanity Fair...

Kelly has yet to address the allegations publicly. But as Ellison revealed onstage at the third-annual Vanity Fair New Establishment Summit on Tuesday morning, all of that is about to change. Ellison told the audience that Kelly has added a chapter to her forthcoming book about the Ailes fiasco. “Nobody knew if she was really going to address this,“ Ellison said, “but she’s added a chapter to her book.”

And now Ailes doesn't have access to a network that he can order to smear her. So sad.

Rick on TV

This morning during the 6am hour, I'll be on WCIU-TV live from Wrigleyville to discuss the Cubs and Just One Bad Century. Tune in if you get a chance.

A $1.5 Billion Lawsuit

That has to be a record of some kind. Relativity Media is suing Netflix for damages of $1.5 billion. That's billion with a b.

Variety has the details.

I read the article a few times, and I have to admit I don't quite understand it exactly. One of the things they are suing for is that Neflix wanted Relativity to release their films on Netflix before they went into theaters. Not sure how this desire caused Relativity to lose over a billion. Maybe if you read the article you'll understand and you can fill me in.

Ali Velshi

The former CNN anchor is moving to MSNBC.

TV Newser has the details.

2017 Rock and Roll Hall of Fame Nominees

The list was released today, and this is who is on the ballot...

Pearl Jam and Tupac Shakur as well as the previously nominated Janet Jackson, Chaka Khan, Kraftwerk, Yes, Chic, The Cars, The Zombies, Joe Tex, J. Geils Band, MC5, and previously eligible artists (on ballot for the first time) Bad Brains, Depeche Mode, Electric Light Orchestra, Jane’s Addiction, Joan Baez, Journey, and Steppenwolf.

Janet Jackson? Really?

There are some great bands that still haven't even been nominated including the Doobie Brothers, Bad Company, The Replacements, Roxy Music, Dire Straits, and Three Dog Night.

Canadians Giving America a Pep Talk

The whole world is freaking out about the things that Donald Trump is saying. These Canadians took some time out of their busy lives to give us a pep talk...

Trump TV

If you've wondered about the questionable strategy of Donald Trump over the past few weeks--going hard right, scorched earth, conspiracy-theory-nuts--wonder no more. People have been speculating that he was going to create a Trump TV network to go up against Fox News if he didn't win. That appears to be true. His son-in-law already had a meeting with potential financial backers.

Coffee Magic

About once a week I spill the coffee grinds all over the counter. This morning I was extra careful and got them into the filter without incident...then, I turned around quickly and knocked the entire coffee canister on the floor--spilling about a pound of coffee. (Sigh) Once the coffee kicks in I'm fine. Before then...not so much.

That's why I got a kick out of this. Thanks "MC" for sharing it...

Sox Fans

White Sox fans have been quiet for the most part during the playoffs, but you will hear from them on days the Cubs lose. It's usually disguised in a passive aggressive (incredibly insincere), "Ooh, that's a bummer."

But I can see right through y'all. I get it. The media coverage in Chicago is a bit over the top for the Cubs, especially compared to the coverage the White Sox received when they went to the World Series. (And the Cubs aren't even in the series yet). The jealousy is there, bubbling just below the surface. In some cases, it's not very far below the surface.

Exhibit A: NBA player (and White Sox fan) Frank Kaminsky. Take a look at the jersey he was wearing when his Charlotte Hornets came to town this week.

Hornets' Frank Kaminsky trolls Cubs with Bartman jersey https://t.co/GKB42r2oVL pic.twitter.com/i8KqfggW7j

— FOX 32 News (@fox32news) October 18, 2016

New night jock for B-96

From this morning's RAMP newsletter...

CBS Radio Top 40 WBBM-FM (B96)/Chicago has filled its night vacancy with the hire Corey B. as its new 7-midnight personality. Corey is an eight-year radio pro who spent the past four years doing nights at Entercom Top 40 WEZB (B97)/New Orleans. Prior to joining B97, Corey worked on-air at WFLZ in his hometown of Tampa, FL. "We believe we've uncovered a true diamond in the rough with Corey B.," said Todd Cavanah, VP of Programming CBS Radio Chicago. "In addition to driving the station over the air at night, Corey's skill and creativity on social media is off the charts. We can't wait to introduce him to Chicagoland later this month." Corey succeeds Eric Tyler, who was recently upped to afternoons.

Note to the youngsters out ther youngsters out there. Corey is young, and has only been in the biz for eight years, but he's already hit the bigtime in Chicago. Read the quote from the man who hired him. It was his social media expertise that put him over the top.

Watching Debates with an Arrested Development Voiceover

Shep Smith Casually Comes Out

It was probably the worst kept secret in the news business, but Shephard Smith made it official in an interview posted by the Huffington Post today.

He is gay.

I love that the article only mentions it in passing in the middle of the piece. There are two big reasons for that. One, everyone sort of knew it already. Two, nobody cares.

The stigma is still there for some parts of American society, but the majority of Americans no longer consider it a big deal or strange if someone they know is gay. That's a great thing.

By the way, all three all-news cable outlets now feature openly gay anchors. CNN has Anderson Cooper and Don Lemon. MSNBC has Rachel Maddow and Thomas Roberts. And Fox News has Shep.

Guess Who Tweeted Again?

Watched Saturday Night Live hit job on me.Time to retire the boring and unfunny show. Alec Baldwin portrayal stinks. Media rigging election!

— Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) October 16, 2016

It's called comedy, big guy. Grow a spine.

Billy Bush Learns Valuable Lesson

This will teach Billy Bush not to demean women with a man like Donald Trump. He's nearing a settlement to leave NBC.

He'll only get about ten million dollars.

Lesson Learned.

Green White Soccer Club

I spent the evening on Saturday night emceeing the 60th anniversary banquet for Green White Soccer Club. You may not realize it, but Saturday was officially Green White Soccer Club day in Illinois (per the governor). Fun night. The Cubs game was on in the hall...but of course I was on stage when the grand slam was hit.

Bob Dylan Wins the Nobel Prize

I know a lot of authors are grumbling that Bob Dylan won the Nobel Prize for literature, but please. If this man's lyrics weren't among the most important words of his era, then I'm a lumberjack. (PS--I do own one flannel shirt, but I have baby soft hands).

The New York Times has a great piece about Dylan and why he so richly deserved this honor.

His songs from the 1960s will always be a great representation of that time. This probably isn't one of his more popular songs (it's from his gospel era), but it's always spoken to me. I like this version of "Gotta Serve Somebody"

Bobby Skafish at WBEZ

Bobby got there a little early yesterday morning, but that gave him time to meet Tony Sarabia and get the lay of the land. Snazzy facilities there at WBEZ.

The interview was top notch. Tony Sarabia clearly did his homework, and he was a genuine fan of Bobby's work. The two men discussed Todd Rundgren, John Lennon, Rat Scabies, Guster, and the newest Nobel Prize winner Bob Dylan.

You can listen to it here.

Thanks so much to the professional crew over at WBEZ including Tony Sarabia and producer Jason Marck.

Trump's Accusers

I found this article in People Magazine to be the most damning, even though his actions here aren't as overtly predatory (he was interrupted mid grope) as the story of the woman in the New York Times. It's written in first person, and it's written well. Trump's response was to imply that she wasn't good looking enough to attack. Nice.

Seriously...people are actually voting for this man to be the president of the United States.

Michelle Obama did a wonderful job of putting it in perspective yesterday. It really touched me...

Minutia Men, Episode 24

EP24 – Rick and Dave discuss confession/atonement, fun with vasectomies, Be Bald & Be Free Day, bad things that happen with open mics,body parts NOT to get tattooed, the 1907 Cubs, and Rick’s brush with Mitch Albom.

A few programming notes

*Tomorrow morning (Thursday) during the 9am hour be sure to tune in to WBEZ (NPR) for a live interview with Bobby Skafish. Tony Sarabia will be interviewing him, and the two music fans will dig deep into the rock and roll stories Bobby tells in "We Have Company". I'll be tagging along to take pictures.

*Also tomorrow morning (Thursday) during the 6am hour, tune in to the WGN-TV Morning news because they will be spinning the great new Cubs tune by Tom Latourette! I've been featuring it on Just One Bad Century, and Tom is a good friend who runs the Beat Tom & Bill Foundation--the golf outing that raised funds for my nephew Caleb last May. Good things happen to good people!

Trump Says Media is Unfair

The man that has benefitted more from free media than any candidate in the history of the world, is now saying that the media is unfairly causing his downfall.

Um, Donny-baby, you might want to take a look in the mirror. It's your own words that are undoing you, and nothing else. You. You are the problem. Only you.

It cannot be libelous or slanderous or biased if it quotes you directly. Stop saying stupid shit.

Billy Bush Negotiating Exit

Bush is going to be more hurt by this tape than Trump, at least in the short term.

The Hollywood Reporter has the details about Bush's impending exit.

It makes you wonder where he will go next, but scandals don't appear to permanently damage people in Hollywood.

What Would it Take to Unendorse Trump?

Remember when Trump said he could go on 5th avenue with a gun and shoot someone, and his fans would still support him? I'm beginning to think that's true. Exhibit A...

A Muted Celebration

What a game last night. I'm still coming to grips with how special that was.

I'm guessing the police were happy that the game on Monday night went so late...it ended around 1:45am...because last night was not so bad in Wrigleyville after the Cubs clinched. From DNAinfo...

A couple hours into the game Tuesday evening, bars were half-full or entirely empty, with Monday's game leaving fans tired and more likely to stay home. Except for people gathered at the ever-popular John Barleycorn and Old Crow, crowds were small even at some Wrigleyville mainstays.

The quiet left little for Chicago police to do, despite having almost as large a presence as the weekend home games that started the series.

This is the way it should be, boys. Gotta get used to winning series. Save the big celebrations for the World Series. Right?

A Duet

WHO MADE THIS 😭 pic.twitter.com/niLkjQ6O8d

— Best Vines (@TheFunnyVines) October 11, 2016