She was only 61 years old.
Tuesday, November 15, 2016
RIP Gwen Ifill
She was only 61 years old.
Monday, November 14, 2016
RIP Leonard Cohen and Leon Russell
Cohen was 82. Russell was 74. Both passed away this week. Both made incredibly important contributions to music.
Did you hear that Trump won?
Yes I did hear. I was in New Orleans (photos below), not Kenya. But thanks for the many e-mails and texts.
Obviously, if you're a reader of this blog, you know my feelings about the guy. I didn't vote for him. I think he has the potential to be a very bad (historically bad) president. But in January, he'll be sworn in as president, and I will have to accept that.
My facebook feed is full of Trump fans telling the majority of the country who didn't vote for him to stop whining and support the president immediately. When I suggested to one facebook friend that if the situation were reversed and Trump had won the popular vote, but not the presidency, it would have been a nationwide free-for-all, he told me that they would not be protesting at all.
Uh huh. Whatever you say. There have already been more than 200 documented racial attacks since he won. And that's after he WON. Imagine what would be taking place if he lost.
I've decided to look on the bright side. For one thing, we (probably) won't have to go through four more years of Hillary investigations. The Republicans were already promising to destroy her. I don't think I could have handled another four years of that. Also, I'm hoping the gravity of the office forces Trump to rethink a few of his positions. I know that's a long shot, but stranger things have happened. He has to actually govern now. The first signs aren't terribly encouraging, but who knows?
I'll never forget the horrible things he has said, but I also won't hold it against my friends who voted for him. I know most of them are absolutely not racists, and have perfectly legitimate reasons for supporting Trump.
On the other hand, I'll also know that racism is not a deal breaker for them.
That's something they are going to have to live with, not me. I'm sure they have rationalized it in their minds in some way. These are not bad people.
But I do have one piece of advice for my Trump friends. Don't try to debate with me about whether or not you think Trump is a racist. That's a pointless debate. He is one. If someone says the things he has said over the past few years and isn't a racist, there is no such thing as racism.
I'm not going to debate with you whether or not racism exists.
Obviously, if you're a reader of this blog, you know my feelings about the guy. I didn't vote for him. I think he has the potential to be a very bad (historically bad) president. But in January, he'll be sworn in as president, and I will have to accept that.
My facebook feed is full of Trump fans telling the majority of the country who didn't vote for him to stop whining and support the president immediately. When I suggested to one facebook friend that if the situation were reversed and Trump had won the popular vote, but not the presidency, it would have been a nationwide free-for-all, he told me that they would not be protesting at all.
Uh huh. Whatever you say. There have already been more than 200 documented racial attacks since he won. And that's after he WON. Imagine what would be taking place if he lost.
I've decided to look on the bright side. For one thing, we (probably) won't have to go through four more years of Hillary investigations. The Republicans were already promising to destroy her. I don't think I could have handled another four years of that. Also, I'm hoping the gravity of the office forces Trump to rethink a few of his positions. I know that's a long shot, but stranger things have happened. He has to actually govern now. The first signs aren't terribly encouraging, but who knows?
I'll never forget the horrible things he has said, but I also won't hold it against my friends who voted for him. I know most of them are absolutely not racists, and have perfectly legitimate reasons for supporting Trump.
On the other hand, I'll also know that racism is not a deal breaker for them.
That's something they are going to have to live with, not me. I'm sure they have rationalized it in their minds in some way. These are not bad people.
But I do have one piece of advice for my Trump friends. Don't try to debate with me about whether or not you think Trump is a racist. That's a pointless debate. He is one. If someone says the things he has said over the past few years and isn't a racist, there is no such thing as racism.
I'm not going to debate with you whether or not racism exists.
Rick and Bridget in NOLA
I found a ridiculous low airfare to New Orleans ($70 roundtrip!) and took the wife there last week to celebrate our 25th anniversary. What a fun city. It's probably my favorite place in the country other than my beloved Chicago. This is our fifth or sixth time there since we got married. Bridget has family there, and it was fun to see everyone. It was also great to see live music every night. Absolutely loved it.
Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame
On Saturday night I was on hand to witness the induction of 18 players into the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame. Four of them were connected in some way to the club my father co-founded, Green White Soccer Club. These four gentlemen all played for Green White at one time...
(left to right, Mike Duffy, Adam Kaempf, Stefan Laxgang, and Rudi Mayer)
Mr. Laxgang was actually my first ever soccer coach. He was the trainer of my Green White midget team back in the late 60s and early 70s, but he was also the star of the Green White team that debuted sixty years ago...
We had a good showing of people there to support our guys. Rudi Mayer (center of the picture below, the other guy in the green jacket) was probably the greatest player to ever wear the Green White uniform. When I was a kid, in the days before professional soccer existed in this country, Rudi was the guy I idolized...
I was thrilled to play a small part in his induction. When I wrote the book "Gruen Weiss Vor", I researched who was in the Hall of Fame and who wasn't. I couldn't believe Rudi wasn't in there, so I tracked down the paperwork and officially nominated him as a representative of the club. Rudi not only played for Green White for nearly 30 years, he was part of a national championship team at Michigan State University, played for the US Olympic Team in 1972, and played professionally for the Chicago Sting in their early years (1975-1976).
Super proud of the guy. Totally deserving of the honor.
(left to right, Mike Duffy, Adam Kaempf, Stefan Laxgang, and Rudi Mayer)
Mr. Laxgang was actually my first ever soccer coach. He was the trainer of my Green White midget team back in the late 60s and early 70s, but he was also the star of the Green White team that debuted sixty years ago...
We had a good showing of people there to support our guys. Rudi Mayer (center of the picture below, the other guy in the green jacket) was probably the greatest player to ever wear the Green White uniform. When I was a kid, in the days before professional soccer existed in this country, Rudi was the guy I idolized...
I was thrilled to play a small part in his induction. When I wrote the book "Gruen Weiss Vor", I researched who was in the Hall of Fame and who wasn't. I couldn't believe Rudi wasn't in there, so I tracked down the paperwork and officially nominated him as a representative of the club. Rudi not only played for Green White for nearly 30 years, he was part of a national championship team at Michigan State University, played for the US Olympic Team in 1972, and played professionally for the Chicago Sting in their early years (1975-1976).
Super proud of the guy. Totally deserving of the honor.
Tuesday, November 08, 2016
Out of the Office
Taking a few days off to spend some quality time with the wife.
Celebrating 25 years of marriage.
Back in the office on Monday.
Monday, November 07, 2016
Mark Gelinas
Who is Mark Gelinas? He's this incredible guy, fighting the battle of his life...
Eckhartz Press is proud to team up with Mark to tell the story of his inspiring struggle. Mark got the first copy of his book "Gel Strong" in the mail the other day. Great to see a big smile on his face. We're going to print with the rest of the books as we speak.
The book is available for pre-order right now, and it will ship the last weekend of November--in plenty of time for Christmas. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. GA, to support their ongoing research in an effort to win the battle over cancer, specifically pancreatic cancer.
Those impressive professionals are the heroes of this book.
It's a remarkably inspiring book and we are honored to be able to help spread the word.
Eckhartz Press is proud to team up with Mark to tell the story of his inspiring struggle. Mark got the first copy of his book "Gel Strong" in the mail the other day. Great to see a big smile on his face. We're going to print with the rest of the books as we speak.
The book is available for pre-order right now, and it will ship the last weekend of November--in plenty of time for Christmas. A portion of the proceeds will be donated to Winship Cancer Institute of Emory Healthcare in Atlanta. GA, to support their ongoing research in an effort to win the battle over cancer, specifically pancreatic cancer.
Those impressive professionals are the heroes of this book.
It's a remarkably inspiring book and we are honored to be able to help spread the word.
Another Soccer Banquet
Congrats to Schwaben AC for their 90th anniversary. I attended the banquet this past weekend--it was in the same location as my wedding reception almost exactly 25 years ago. Two of the people in this photo (Joe Filian top row third from left) and Rudi Mayer (bottom row, left) were professional soccer players. Rudi will be inducted into the Illinois Soccer Hall of Fame next Saturday night. I'll be there that night too. Another excuse to wear my green blazer.
Bobby Skafish in Des Plaines
Had a nice time with Bobby Skafish and the people who came out to our book signing in Des Plaines yesterday. Thanks to everyone who came out. Still have two more signings in November, one on the NW Side of Chicago and one in NW Indiana. Details to come!
The Simpsons Sets a Record
Fox has announced that the Simpsons have been renewed for two more seasons (season 29 & 30!). That means that Homer and company will set a record for most episodes of an episodic television series ever (breaking Gunsmoke's record).
The Hollywood Reporter has the news.
Fox News Steps In It
Only one problem with that. It wasn't true. Not even close.
He reported this bombshell given to him by one anonymous source (I'm guessing it rhymes with Muliani) as fact, and of course, the Trump campaign rolled with it. Even after it was proven false by actual reporting, Trump continued to say it. His spokesperson Kellyanne Conway said it didn't matter if he continued to say it or not, because "the damage has already been done."
That's like walking in on a stabbing taking place, and asking the person to stop stabbing, and the stabber calmly replies "Don't worry, I'm sure he's already dead" as he continues to stab.
Baier, to his credit, has retracted the story and apologized.
Trump will never do either.
Cubs SNL Appearance
I'll spare you the video of the bit of them pretending to be chippendale dancers. This was the highlight of their appearance on SNL this weekend...
Never thought I'd see this
AC000000 pic.twitter.com/obkA5YuNnI
— Paul Sullivan (@PWSullivan) November 5, 2016
Friday, November 04, 2016
The Rally
This picture says it all...
Here are a few I took. The first three are from the corner of Waveland/Clark. The last one is from Michigan Avenue...
Take a look at this crowd. @JArrieta34 taking in the moment. #CubsParade #CubsRally pic.twitter.com/ExpKGc2NpE
— Marcus Leshock (@marcusleshock) November 4, 2016
Here are a few I took. The first three are from the corner of Waveland/Clark. The last one is from Michigan Avenue...
A Very Cool Souvenir
Here's a one-of-a-kind souvenir. My buddy Dane Placko picked it up from the floor of the Cubs locker room during the celebration and gave it to me. A cork from one of the champagne bottles. Pretty cool!
Heading down to the parade!
Heading down to the parade!
Thursday, November 03, 2016
Minutia Men, Episode 27
A special World Series edition.
Dave reveals his inner black soul, and Rick tries (unsuccessfully) to restrain his joy.
Listen to it here.
Mom's Gift
Isn't that sweet? Love ya, Mom.
Tweeting the Big Moment
It happened: @Cubs win World Series. That's change even this South Sider can believe in. Want to come to the White House before I leave?
— President Obama (@POTUS) November 3, 2016
We are the champions.....my friends.
— Bill Murray (@BillMurray) November 3, 2016
Troops in Afghanistan celebrate the @Cubs!! #GoCubs @ARizzo44 @KrisBryant_23 @CubsJoeMadd @JArrieta34 @the_USO pic.twitter.com/4Y7kB8b37O
— Andi K (@AndiK967) November 3, 2016
Wait til the retirement party with a few million of your closest friends. https://t.co/4lusmeNCtE
— Ron Smith (@oldiesmusic) November 3, 2016
Video: Bill Murray on Cubs winning World Series: 'I’ve been imagining this for a long time' https://t.co/eKeyMIPRdy
— Jim Wiser (@JimWiser) November 3, 2016
Approval honking as a brigade of Cubs busses sizzle down the Kennedy...
— Mark Grote (@markgrotesports) November 3, 2016
Da Cubs
Hard to describe what was going on in our house last night during that roller coaster Cubs game. I was so nervous before the game that I couldn't eat dinner. During the game, I was a mess...especially in the bottom of the 8th.
But then it really happened, and I couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate. At home, with my family.
Bridget and I celebrated with a shot for the man who turned me into a Cubs fan in 1968...Uncle Manny.
And then my phone absolutely exploded. I got incredibly emotional at the outreach from so many people I know or have known or never met, all saying they were thinking of me at that moment. That really touched me.
To tell you the truth, I'm getting a little emotional just telling the story right now.
Gotta go.
If you want to see the video of how my family reacted during the closing seconds, check out my facebook page. Sean was rolling tape and didn't tell me. It's a pretty awesome video memory.
But then it really happened, and I couldn't have picked a better place to celebrate. At home, with my family.
Bridget and I celebrated with a shot for the man who turned me into a Cubs fan in 1968...Uncle Manny.
And then my phone absolutely exploded. I got incredibly emotional at the outreach from so many people I know or have known or never met, all saying they were thinking of me at that moment. That really touched me.
To tell you the truth, I'm getting a little emotional just telling the story right now.
Gotta go.
If you want to see the video of how my family reacted during the closing seconds, check out my facebook page. Sean was rolling tape and didn't tell me. It's a pretty awesome video memory.
Wednesday, November 02, 2016
Bobby Skafish on Acid Flashback Radio
Bobby Skafish will be on Acid Flashback Radio today at 11 AM CT for two hours as they discuss his new book "We Have Company: Four Decades of Rock and Roll Encounters."
They'll play music from some of the sixty plus guests he's interviewed over the years and talk about some of his favorite moments. Airs again on Thursday Nov 3 at noon CT, and Friday at 3 CT.
Listen to it here.
Bill Murray Gives Cubs Ticket To Random Fan
He just happened to be walking by.
What a great story.
Deal Falls Through
Gannett had agreed to purchase Chicago's Tronc (formerly known as the Tribune), but after their latest earnings report, Gannett's bank got cold feet.
The deal is dead.
God's Humor
Don't tell me God doesn't have a sense of humor. I've been waiting 50 years for this moment, and now that Game 7 is here, I have a soccer game scheduled for the exact same time tonight. I can't blow off the soccer game--I'm the coach and my son is on the team--and it can't be rescheduled because the league won't allow rescheduled games this late in the season. Oh, and the team we are playing is the best team in the league. They have scored 50 goals and given up only 6 this year. Even I can see the humor here.
LATE UPDATE:Just got the word. Because of all the rain we got today, the field is unplayable. Soccer game is cancelled!
LATE UPDATE:Just got the word. Because of all the rain we got today, the field is unplayable. Soccer game is cancelled!
Tuesday, November 01, 2016
Social Media Chris
He had been a featured part of the Eric and Kathy show for a few years, but now he's spreading his wings in Hollywood.
The Daily Herald today has a piece about Social Media Chris.
Patti Haze
My Illinois Entertainer column this month features an interview with the legendary Patti Haze!
You can read it here.
Good Omen?
The Cubs have never lost a game in November, going all the way back to their founding in 1871.
Sure, they've never played one, but still...
C'mon Cubs.
LATE UPDATE: I stand corrected. From Carrie Muskat's blog: "Tuesday marks a franchise record for the Cubs’ latest game by date, regular season or postseason, but the team did play games in November before. According to historian Ed Hartig, on Nov. 1-15, 1888, just 128 years ago, the Cubs played exhibition games during a world baseball tour that included stops in Australia, Egypt, Italy, England and Ireland."
Financial Times Endorses Hillary
The Financial Times never endorses a Democrat, but this pretty much sums up the way I feel too...
Mrs Clinton carries enough baggage to fill a Boeing 747. She is not trusted by the majority of voters. But she is manifestly more competent than Mr Trump whose braggadocio, divisiveness and meanness are on daily display. Despite her faults, Mrs Clinton is eminently qualified to be the first woman elected to the White House.
I keep thinking to myself...just imagine a President Trump. We would become the laughingstock of the world. I'm not going to criticize anyone who doesn't want Hillary. I totally get that. But the alternative is almost incomprehensively bad. He's not just mean and nasty. He doesn't just say completely unsubstantiated things and inflame hatred. I watched him give a speech yesterday. You know what he's going to replace Obamacare with? "Something really cool."
Mrs Clinton carries enough baggage to fill a Boeing 747. She is not trusted by the majority of voters. But she is manifestly more competent than Mr Trump whose braggadocio, divisiveness and meanness are on daily display. Despite her faults, Mrs Clinton is eminently qualified to be the first woman elected to the White House.
I keep thinking to myself...just imagine a President Trump. We would become the laughingstock of the world. I'm not going to criticize anyone who doesn't want Hillary. I totally get that. But the alternative is almost incomprehensively bad. He's not just mean and nasty. He doesn't just say completely unsubstantiated things and inflame hatred. I watched him give a speech yesterday. You know what he's going to replace Obamacare with? "Something really cool."
World Series Ratings
It's not just Cub fans rooting for a Game 7. The folks at Fox are opening rooting for it too. The ratings for this World Series have been tremendous. From Variety...
The Chicago Cubs fought back Sunday night to avoid losing the World Series at Wrigley Field, beating the Cleveland Indians 3-2, and Fox execs likely let out just as big a cheer as Bill Murray at the prospect of at least one more game’s worth of ad revenue. Game 5 of the Chicago-Cleveland Series brought in a massive audience of 23.6 million and a 6.7 in the advertiser-coveted 18-49 demographic in Nielsen’s preliminary ratings. That’s a 37% improvement over Game 5 of 2015’s New York Mets-Kansas City Royals Series, which was that Series’ final game, as the Royals clinched the title with a 7-2 win. This was the biggest Game 5 audience since the 1997 Florida Marlins-Cleveland Indians World Series (24.2 million).
It's not just a huge audience. It's the right audience for advertisers.
Plus the old guys like me.
It's not just a huge audience. It's the right audience for advertisers.
Plus the old guys like me.
Glenn Beck
Didn't see this coming. Because Glenn Beck has openly opposed Donald Trump, his entire empire is in danger. Great piece in Rolling Stone magazine about him, that opens with this intriguing paragraph...
The way right-wing-media personality Glenn Beck sees it, no matter who wins the election, Donald or Hillary, he's done for, gone, kaput, along with all that he has built since leaving Fox News in 2011 – his websites (TheBlaze and Glennbeck.com), his radio show (The Glenn Beck Radio Program), his live-streamed online network, his status as a bestselling author in four genres.
His people are turning on him, because he's turned on the ridiculous GOP nominee.
His people are turning on him, because he's turned on the ridiculous GOP nominee.
New Boss at Hubbard Broadcasting in Chicago
Over the past year the changes made at Hubbard Broadcasting Chicago are pretty profound. Here's the latest, from Radio Insight...
Hubbard Radio Chicago has named Jeff England as its new VP/Market Manager overseeing Classic Rock "97.1 The Drive" 97.1 WDRV/96.9 WWDV, AC 100.3 WSHE, and Hot AC "101.9 The Mix" WTMX. England comes to Chicago from Hubbard's Phoenix cluster where he was Director of Sales. He previously served as Director of Sales and later Market Manager for iHeartMedia's Phoenix cluster from 2003-2012. He fills the vacancy created by John Gallagher's exit in September.
Bob Herguth
Congrats to Bob Herguth for getting a gig at the Sun Times. Robert Feder reports...
Veteran Chicago journalist Robert Herguth has returned to the Sun-Times as a part-time investigative reporter. Herguth, who most recently was director of investigations for the Better Government Association, previously worked for the Sun-Times as an assignment editor, assistant metro editor and reporter. He’ll now work three days a week with the paper’s Watchdogs unit. Herguth resigned from the BGA last June along with Robert Reed, who was director of programming, in a disagreement over changes in the organization’s structure and strategy. In September Reed joined the Chicago Tribune as a business columnist.
Here's a little known fact about Herguth. He used his time off work wisely. He has a book coming out via Eckhartz Press. Details will be announced within a week or two.
Veteran Chicago journalist Robert Herguth has returned to the Sun-Times as a part-time investigative reporter. Herguth, who most recently was director of investigations for the Better Government Association, previously worked for the Sun-Times as an assignment editor, assistant metro editor and reporter. He’ll now work three days a week with the paper’s Watchdogs unit. Herguth resigned from the BGA last June along with Robert Reed, who was director of programming, in a disagreement over changes in the organization’s structure and strategy. In September Reed joined the Chicago Tribune as a business columnist.
Here's a little known fact about Herguth. He used his time off work wisely. He has a book coming out via Eckhartz Press. Details will be announced within a week or two.
Not a Halloween Fan
Monday, October 31, 2016
Bobby Skafish Book Signing
This coming Sunday! It's his only NW Suburban book signing before Christmas. This book is a great present for anyone who loves Rock and Roll...
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