Rick and Dave on WLS

I've been getting e-mails from people who say "Doggone it, I missed you on WLS a few Fridays ago. Is that posted anywhere?"

Why, yes it is.

The entire show is here (minus commercials, news headlines, and traffic).

We think it went pretty well.

Tubas Playing Cartoon Music Trolling Nazis

I like the creativity from this past weekend's protests...

Tubas trolling Nazis with cartoon music is my new favorite thing. pic.twitter.com/R5PsRt9ps7

— Chris Sacca (@sacca) August 19, 2017

Steve Bannon's New Project

Presidential advisor and self-proclaimed father of the alt-right Steve Bannon was fired on Friday by the president. He immediately started making noise about going "thermonuclear" against Trump's enemies within the White House in his new position (yes, he already has one) at Breitbart.

But it was this quote from Axios that got my attention: "Axios' Jonathan Swan hears Bannon has told friends he sees a massive opening to the right of Fox News, raising the possibility that he's going to start a network."

To the right of Fox News. The same Fox News that has dozens of commentators who have defended Trump's "lots of fine people there" reaction to Charlottesville. That's not right wing enough.

Pray for this country.

Critics and Readers are Loving Bob Shannon's "Turn it Up"

We've been hearing from lots of satisfied customers who have picked up and read Bob Shannon's great new e-book "Turn it Up: American Radio Tales 1946-1996".

Here are a few...

I bought the Kindle version about five minutes after you posted it. I'm probably 40% through it already (Just finished the Casey Kasem entry - sad!) because I could NOT put it down, and it was hugely entertaining to read about some of my idols. I think you should put together a Volume 2."
--Chris Holmes

"The people you've chosen to profile are awesome; however, it's your writing that truly makes the work sizzle. Congratulations!"
--Mike Kinosian

"good book, great author."
--Broadcasting legend Walter Sabo (Westwood One)

"Anyone who has worked on air and loved radio or wondered what the biz was like in the glory years, needs to buy 'Turn It Up' by Bob Shannon. It's impossible to put down."
--Matt Haase

RIP Dick Gregory

Dick Gregory passed away over the weekend. He was 84. For the last 50 years or so Dick Gregory was more known as a civil rights activist than he was a comedian. But comedy is where he first got the attention of America. This is part of his stand up act about moving into an all-white neighborhood in Chicago.

RIP Jerry Lewis

He passed away yesterday at the age of 91. He will always be remembered as one of the comedy greats, especially in France for some reason. I was never a big fan, but I always appreciated his place in history.

He talks about the love of French people in this clip with Johnny Carson...



This is a clip we played all the time on Steve & Garry's show. It's an outtake of Jerry and Dean recording the promo for the movie "The Caddy". Got a little randy...

Outlived Pops

When you lose a parent early in life, and that parent is too young, it remains on your mind every day of your life. This is a photo of my dad. He was 54 years old (and 21 days) when he died in 1989. Yesterday I turned 54 years and 22 days old. I've had this date mentally marked on my calendar for nearly 30 years wondering if I'd ever see it. I know it's ridiculous because I'm not even remotely sick or unhealthy, but when I woke up yesterday morning, I breathed a huge sigh of relief. I've now officially oulived my father. I plan on appreciating every moment of my bonus time.

Tell me again that animals don't experience emotion

She had to give her lion cubs to a zoo when they got too big, and this is their reaction to seeing her SEVEN YEARS later...

A woman adopted 2 lion cubs but had to give them up to the local zoo

Here's what happened visiting them 7yrs later pic.twitter.com/q8HRuox9sY

— Learn Something (@EarnKnowledge) August 20, 2017

Gotta Love Javy

This guy probably looks cool picking his nose. Javy Baez scores the winning run with style...

Javy Suave. pic.twitter.com/jOAPwuD0vb

— Chicago Cubs (@Cubs) August 20, 2017

This is how you interview someone

I saw this live and couldn't turn it off. They knew what they were talking about and didn't let him keep repeating things that weren't true. This is how you do it, folks.

This clip is justifiably gaining fame as an example of live fact checking and the refusal to grant talking points. pic.twitter.com/RPFCO0L7DA

— Jay Rosen (@jayrosen_nyu) August 19, 2017

Give us a sign, Lord

Amen! pic.twitter.com/fV3O9KsHN2

— John Dean (@JohnWDean) August 19, 2017

Mitch Michaels, Author

Officially an author! Mitch Michaels gets the first copy of his brand new book! Congratulations Mitch! The storyteller's stories have been immortalized on paper. Pre-order your copy today. Book ships at the end of this month.

Bye Bye Bannon

This leaves only two White Nationalists in the West Wing (Gorka and Miller)...

JUST IN: White House on Bannon: "John Kelly and Steve Bannon have mutually agreed today would be Steve's last day." https://t.co/4n07J8PHiT pic.twitter.com/DUvVuocuSE

— ABC News (@ABC) August 18, 2017

Mark Suppelsa Retires

Have to admit, I didn't see this one coming. At the age of 55, Mark Suppelsa is retiring as the anchor of the WGN-TV News.

He doesn't say so, but I strongly suspect this has at least a little something to do with Sinclair broadcasting's purchase of the station. When they take over, if past purchases are any indication of future actions, they will force all WGN broadcasts to show right wing propoganda as part of their newscasts.

I'll miss Suppelsa on TV. He's an actual journalist, but not one that took himself too seriously. I interviewed him previously for Shore Magazine. You can read that interview here.

"Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars" Book Signing in Texas

Eckhartz Press author Bill Paige resides in the Austin area, so he set up shop in his adopted home to sell some of his books, the highly acclaimed Everything I Know I learned from Rock Stars.

Bill drew a big crowd, sold a bunch of books, and is now spreading some of that rock and roll wisdom throughout Texas.

If you aren't yet familiar with the book, Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars reveals decades of music reporting and candid conversations with 50 influential artists including Roy Orbison, Queen, Electric Light Orchestra, Grace Slick, Fleetwood Mac, Dire Straits, The Go-Go’s, Van Halen, Joe Jackson, Genesis, Boy George, Journey, Sparks, Cheap Trick, Adrian Belew, Nils Lofgren, B.B. King, and Robyn Hitchcock. These encounters are framed by memorable stories and anecdotes from both sides of the concert stage. Raw and real, Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars is a captivating personal time capsule guaranteed to fire the imagination of any music fan.

Below are a few of those music fans with their brand new book!

Champaign Urbana Radio Ratings

Tom Taylor's NOW Column printed this today, and I'm reposting it here simply because of the mention of my old college radio station WPGU...

Champaign, Illinois hasn’t been surveyed by Nielsen since Spring 2015. Here are the three-book trends from Eastlan for the top-ten finishers (plus a couple more) – Saga’s #1 and #2 in this big college market with country WIXY (9.9-13.5-11.6) and hot AC “Mix 94.5” WLRW (9.0 to 10.1 and another 10.1). Third is DWS Inc.-owned news/talk WDWS (7.9-10.4-9.6). A different kind of news/talker jumps to fourth – University of Illinois-Urbana-Champaign’s not-for-profit news/talk WILL-AM (7.5-7.1-8.6). That makes Neuhoff’s urban “Hot 105.5” WCZQ fifth (7.7-8.8-7.8). Eastlan’s second five - Illinois Bible Institute’s contemporary Christian non-com WBGL (4.7-4.0-5.8). SJ Broadcasting’s CHR WQQB (6.7-5.1-4.6). Tied for eighth are DWS-owned AC “Lite Rock” WHMS (5.3-3.7-3.5) and U. of Illinois-owned WILL’s not-for-profit news/classical sister WILL-FM (4.5-4.1-3.5). Saga’s back with the #10 player, classic hits WREE (2.9-2.6-3.4). Illini Media does alternative on eleventh-ranked WPGU (3.4-2.6-2.9). It’s a commercial station owned by the University and run by students. Some distant Chicago stations make the Champaign book, including Cumulus-owned talk WLS (1.1-1.3-1.6) and Tribune’s talk WGN (0.5-0.7-1.3).

Way to go, WPGU! We were in the top five when I was there, but there are a lot more radio stations down there now.

Chicago Radio Bands Together to Promote...Chicago Radio

From Radio Ink...

More than 40 Chicago radio stations will simultaneously air a 60-second interview with John Alfirevich, dealer operator of Apple Chevrolet and president of the Chicagoland and Northwest Indiana Chevy Dealers Association, discussing how radio is a strong and proven channel for advertisers. The interview will air on Tuesday at 4:29pm. Alfirevich said, “Our association is dedicated to providing our Chevy dealers with exceptional marketing programs showcasing Chevrolet’s world class products in an honest and ethical way. Radio keeps Chevy engaged with the Chicago community, and provides that broad-reaching foundational piece to our marketing plan.”

Four companies own more than half of those stations, so don't be too impressed that these "competitors" are working together. Still, it's a good idea.

The Bears in Mt. Prospect

What a strange day yesterday in my hometown. I live only a mile or so away from Prospect High School, and who showed up there yesterday? The Chicago Bears!

Local fans love seeing the @ChicagoBears practice at Prospect High School stadium https://t.co/frMOH3n2bJ via @dailyherald

— Jim O'Donnell (@jodonnell17) August 18, 2017

The President Collects Magazine Covers of Himself

But I suspect these will not be kept in the collection. The Economist on the left, and Time Magazine on the right.



Here's another one...

My first cover for The New Yorker entitled "Blowhard." pic.twitter.com/OjnjELalVP

— David Plunkert (@plunkert) August 17, 2017

Minutia Men, Episode 62

EP62 – Rick and Dave discuss lunch-time speed passes, Elvis Minutia, why beer makes you smarter, where the Cubs were when Elvis died, and Rick’s brush with Jim McMahon.

Listen to it here.

Kathy Hart Finally Speaks Out

She's half of the "Eric & Kathy Show" team, but she's mysteriously been absent the past four months. Today she sent out this statement to her fans...

To everyone who has reached out with concern and support these last few months, I want to say a very sincere thank you. As open as we’ve always been on the show, it was certainly uncharacteristic to not explain my absence . . . and even more uncharacteristic for me to be silent for this long. 😉 I trust from the many years of our connection, you will support and respect the personal nature of why I have been off the air.

It has been challenging, mentally and physically, to be away for this long, especially on days like Friday for the live broadcast from Lurie Children’s for “Eric & Kathy’s Kids.” I’ve always admired how E&K listeners come together to love and support these kids and their families. It’s also a great reminder that health and family should never be taken for granted and always come first, no matter what.

I have always considered the Mix and our listeners as family, and want to express my infinite gratitude to everyone who has reached out to me personally and supported me publicly. Please stay tuned as I fully intend to be back on the air!

Rick Renteria

Rick Renteria was a good soldier for the Cubs. He came in to manage a team full of youngsters on the rise, and just when they were about to reach their potential, he was dumped in favor of Joe Maddon. I always thought Renteria got a raw deal, even though I agreed (and still agree) with the move to bring in Maddon.

Apparently the Cubs agree that he got a raw deal. They gave Rick a World Series ring.

(Photo: Different Rick wearing a World Series ring. This Rick still hasn't received one. He's wearing someone else's)

Can CBS/Entercom Merger Still Fall Through?

Short answer: No.

From this morning's Radio Ink...

There’s been some speculation as to what would happen to the CBS/Entercom deal if Entercom’s stock continued to slide. After meeting with Entercom CEO David Field and CFO Rich Schmaeling, Wells Fargo analyst Marci Ryvicker told investors not to worry, there is no “out” in this deal. “This has been somewhat miscommunicated to the Street for whatever the reason, so we will clarify it here. CBS Radio and ETM are contractually obligated to get this deal done – regardless as to ETM’s stock price. We stress that both parties are fully committed but we thought it relevant to highlight the contractual obligation as well.”

Don't worry. A few people will still get their big paydays and everyone else will be sacrificed eventually to help ease the heavy debt load as the stock tanks.

Nobody Will Defend the President

Yesterday the bookers at Fox News (that's right, Fox News) couldn't get a single current Republican to come on the air to defend Donald Trump's press conference.

The same was true at CNN and MSNBC.

Also, the businesspeople/CEOs have left the commissions that President Trump put together to facilitate a better relationship with the government and help with job growth.

Turns out that saying nice things about people who march with Nazis isn't such a great idea after all. Finally there's a red line that has been crossed, and that red line is a red armband.

On the other hand, over 30% of Americans are still with him. For them, there is no line.

The Front Page

Front page of Wednesday's @SunTimes. pic.twitter.com/mA58KyPUCn

— Robert Feder (@RobertFeder) August 16, 2017

Bob Shannon's "Turn it Up" available beginning today!

Bob Shannon’s book Turn it Up: American Radio Tales 1946-1996 comes out today on e-book via Eckhartz Press. Click here to purchase your copy on amazon.

Bob chose August 16th as the release date for a special reason. It’s the 40th anniversary of Elvis Presley’s death. Elvis was special in Bob’s career–Bob was the one entrusted with letting the Dallas radio audience know about Elvis’ passing. That touching story is told in the audio clip posted today at Eckhartz Press.

Bob’s book is also about the all-time great radio personalities, and that includes Dewey Phillips from WHBQ Memphis. Who is Dewey, you ask? Only the first disc jockey in America to play Elvis Presley on the radio.

This audio clip has that story too, and it’s a good one.

Bob’s audio gives you a good idea of what yuu’ll encounter in the pages of Turn it Up: American Radio Tales 1946-1996. Great stories told with great flair.

If you love radio, you’ll love Turn it Up: American Radio Tales 1946-1996

First Day of High School

Son #3 on his first day of high school. Our last one...

On the President's Favorite Show

A long-time defender of Trump says this...

My Favorite Elvis song

I love quite a few Elvis songs, but this one is my favorite. Here he is with the London Philharmonic Orchestra.

Elvis' Death

This is the 40th anniversary of his death. I was in Germany when it happened, and it was just as big of a story over there. Germany loved Elvis after his stint there in the Army...

Jimmy Kimmel Rips Trump

He (correctly) compares Trump press conference to Tyson biting Holyfield's ear. Completely f-in crazy. He also has an idea for how to get rid of Trump.

I agree with...Clay Aiken?

Remember all those times I defended @realDonaldTrump and believed he was not actually racist? Well... I am a f*****g dumbass. #imsorry

— Clay Aiken (@clayaiken) August 15, 2017

Seth Meyers' Statement on Charlottesville

What he said...

"Safe Inside" Available for Pre-Order Now!

The book comes out officially on Eckhartz Press at the end of this month, but Lee Kingsmill's beautiful novel set in 1940s Chicago is now available for pre-order. Reserve your copy today!

Here's what the critics think of it...

“The best books expand our humanity by the vicarious experiences and opportunities for compassion they provide. Lee Kingsmill’s Safe Inside is just such a book. It’s rich and textured, filled with family dynamics, religion, sexuality, the refuge of the imagination, the sanctuary of movies, and most of all, the depth, truthfulness, and complexity of humanity.”
Michael Lister, New York Times Bestselling author of "Blood Work"

“This beautifully written and sensitive novel about growing up in Chicago in the 1940s and ’50s and falling in love with the movies is that rare thing, a story that totally recreates a vanished world. Every detail of both place and character is so closely observed and evocative that you feel like you are there. ”
Dan Callahan, associate editor of Simon Media Works and author of "Barbara Stanwyck: the Miracle Woman," and "Vanessa"

“The meticulous detail of Safe Inside leads us through the memories and emotions that take hold early and never let go.”
Walter J. Podrazik, Media historian and author

Lee Kingsmill grew up on the south side of Chicago. A stint in the army took him to pre-statehood Alaska where he served in the military police. After graduating from the University of Chicago, he taught high school English and humanities for thirty-four years. A highlight was accompanying student groups on Spring break trips to Italy. Since retirement, he continues to travel abroad, and much of Safe Inside was written in Mexico. He resides with his husband in Munster, Indiana. In his next life, he will have intimidating shoulders and only one left foot on the dance floor

FCC Intrigue

Why would the FCC approve changes to media ownership limits when nobody in America wants that? Tom Taylor's NOW column has the answer today...

Ajit Pai’s pre-Inauguration Day visit to David Smith at Sinclair’s D.C. offices is the jumping-off point for a major New York Times piece about how the new FCC Chair is reversing rules about TV ownership and operation. The story says “the Smith-Pai alliance does not follow the familiar script of a lobbyist with deep pockets influencing policy…Instead, it is a case of a powerful regulator and an industry giant sharing a political ideology and…having free rein to pursue it.” Smith has stayed deep in the background during Sinclair’s rise as a TV consolidator.

If it isn't lobbying money, it's politics. One thing for sure is that it's not what's best for the consumer. They honestly don't care what you think.

Complete Victory for Taylor Swift

Any one who saw the picture with the guy's hand clearly on her butt knew this day was coming, but yesterday a jury made it official. From Rolling Stone Magazine...

The jury in the Taylor Swift assault trial ruled in favor of the singer and her mother Monday, rejecting a radio DJ's claims that they unjustly had him fired from his job after allegedly groping the singer during a 2013 backstage meet-and-greet.

In addition to siding against David Mueller's $3 million lawsuit – or $250,000, as his lawyer compromised during closing arguments – the jury also ruled in favor of Swift's assault and battery countersuit, forcing Mueller to pay Swift a symbolic $1, CNN reports.

Following Swift's victory, the singer pledged to make donations to "multiple organizations that help sexual assault victims defend themselves."

I feel a song coming...

10 Foods That Help You Poop

I don't know how this article got in my e-mail box, but I clicked on it.

Towards the end of his life my grandfather would come out of the bathroom with his arms raised in the air after a BM chanting "We Win! We Win! We Win!"

Not there yet myself, but feeling really conflicted about having clicked on that link.

Take that, Ted Nugent

Funny response from David Crosby to a question about Ted Nugent not making the Rock and Roll Hall of Fame because of his politics...

No the asshole just isn't good enough https://t.co/tiJ4rJaX4S

— David Crosby (@thedavidcrosby) August 14, 2017

BBC News Accidentally Shows Anna Paquin Nude

The link to view the pixalated version of this report is here.

It was on a TV in the background of a newsroom shot. I'm sure the producer/editor/writer watching it was doing it for research on a story.

RIP Joe Bologna

The actor/writer passed away at the age of 82.

I loved him in the role of King Kaiser (obviously portraying a thinly-veiled Sid Caesar) in the movie "My Favorite Year"...

Doin' The Cruise

On May 4, 1970, four Kent State University students were killed and nine injured when members of the Ohio National Guard opened fire during a demonstration protesting the Vietnam War. One of the people on the scene that day was a young Mitch Michaels. His eye-witness account of the chaos and mayhem is chronicled in the pages of his upcoming book Doin' The Cruise: Memories from a Lifetime in Radio and Rock & Roll.

This isn't just a book about the rock and roll lifestyle Mitch clearly led. It's also about a generation, and the challenges they faced as they tried to change the world.

The book comes out in early September on Eckhartz Press. It's available for pre-order now.

The Taylor Swift Groping Case

While the judge dismissed the case against Taylor Swift after her impressive testimony, the case still isn't over. Tom Taylor's NOW column explains...

The Denver groping/firing suit isn’t over. Taylor Swift’s mom Andrea and former Keymarket VP/Programming Frank Bell are still targets of the suit brought by David Mueller. He claims that a complaint from the Swift camp brought him to a meeting with KYGO management – and then termination. Finding a job since then’s been almost impossible, and that led to the filing of the 2015 suit against one of the industry’s biggest stars. Frank Bell has known Swift since she was a small girl, having worked with her dad at a Pennsylvania station and helped her out along her path. When Keymarket eliminated its corporate VP/Programming position in late 2010, Frank was invited to join the Swift “13 Management team in Nashville as its radio liaison – proof that relationships can pay off. There’s another part of the Denver legal story that’s not over – Taylor Swift’s countersuit against Mueller is still active.

This is Evil

GoDaddy has stepped in and yanked the URL of the Daily Stormer (a Nazi site) after it wrote an article ripping the woman who was killed.

In the post, the founder of the site, Andrew Anglin, claimed Ms Heyer has been killed in a “road rage incident”. He also launched into a vitriolic tirade about her appearance, saying she was a “drain on society”.

“Despite feigned outrage by the media, most people are glad she is dead, as she is the definition of uselessness,” Mr Anglin, the site’s editor, said. “A 32-year-old woman without children is a burden on society and has no value.”

This is evil. There is no gray area here. The president won't denounce it, either. This morning he went after the black CEO who quit his advisory board because Trump didn't denounce the racists by name, but he still can't find the words to call out these white supremicists.

I'm afraid there's no other conclusion that can be made. The president is either one of them, or he lacks the courage to call them out because they support him.

LATE UPDATE: President Trump finally tried to clean this up today (72 hours later), but only after weirdly talking about the economy first. He did read the statement written for him without improvising, and in that statement he did call out the white supremacists by name. He met the lowest possible bar. But the White supremacists in his White House remain employed, and the White supremacists who protested know that he only made this statement because he was forced to do so.

Coverage of KKK/Neo-Nazi/Alt-Right Rally

I watched quite a bit of the coverage on Saturday, and Fox News was shameful. Dear Fox News: Black Lives Matter protests AGAINST racism. KKK/Nazis/Alt-right protests IN FAVOR OF racism.

They are not the same thing. Stop saying that.

You should really be ashamed of yourselves.

Saddest photo ever

Saddest photo ever. This is disgusting . Those poor police officers pic.twitter.com/ck95AAFdQQ

— Nils Lofgren (@nilslofgren) August 13, 2017

Thank you WLS!

Dave and I had an incredible time hosting a show on WLS AM 890 this morning from 10am to Noon. Thanks to Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano for allowing us to fill in for them, and thanks also to the crew (especially Tony Lossano and Tyler Bravo) for making it easy for us. The highlight of the show for me had to be this interview with Denny Laine (Moody Blues, Wings), Neil Innes (Monty Python), and Mark Hudson (The Hudson Brothers). (Photo: L-R, Mark Hudson, Dave Stern, Denny Laine, Neil Innes, and me)

I was so excited I could barely contain myself. They were gracious and wonderful, and they performed "Cant Buy Me Love".

It wasn't until after the interview was over and the gentlemen had left the building that Dave pointed out to me that my fly was unzipped.

Another fun part of the day was being reunited on the air with our old pal Kathy Voltmer, who was our newscaster when we were on the air in Champaign-Urbana. Thirty years later, here we are again...

What in the world?

You'll never believe what I'm doing this morning.

Dave Stern and I have been asked to fill in for Bob Sirott and Marianne Murciano on WLS-AM 890. We'll be on the air from 10am to Noon.

Tune in if you get a chance.

Minutia Men, Episode 61

EP61 – Rick and Dave discuss bra-sized discounts, sausage contents, bears driving cars, a Bionic Cub, and Rick’s brush with superjock Larry Lujack.

You can listen to it here.

Doin' the Cruise

"When I think of Lorelei my head turns all around. Gentle as a butterfly, she moves without a sound."
--Styx "Lorelei"

Those are the lyrics by Dennis DeYoung, but when I think of Lorelei, I think of the vintage Loop commercials that stirred a little something inside a certain rock and roll fan.

In his upcoming book "Doin' the Cruise: Memories From A Lifetime in Radio and Rock & Roll" Mitch Michaels (with Ken Churilla) writes about those incredibly heady days and what was happening behind the scenes, including Mitch's friendship with Lorelei--the face and "pow" of the Loop. The book is available for pre-order now at Eckhartz Press. It ships in September.

Eric Bolling Sues Reporter

Eric Bolling, the Fox News personality who was suspended for allegedly sending unwanted lewd photos to female colleagues, is suing the reporter who broke the story for defamation. How much is he seeking in damages? Oh, only $50 million.

What I think is strange is that he isn't suing the Huffington Post (which printed the story), only the reporter. Sounds like a classic case of trying to intimidate him or scare him because he doesn't have the funds to defend himself in court.

Our justice system has one giant flaming flaw. It doesn't judge right or wrong. That's usually irrelevant. The person with the most money almost always wins just because they can outlast the poorer person. Ask our current president. He used that technique over 3000 times.

Bruce on Broadway

I would LOVE to see this show. The RAMP Newsletter reports on it this morning...

Bruce Springsteen is indeed coming to Broadway this fall for an eight-week residency. In a complete 180 from his massive stadium gigs, these insanely intimate shows will be staged at The Walter Kerr Theater on West 48th Street, a venue that holds less than 1,000 people. "My show is just me, the guitar, the piano and the words and music," Springsteen said. "Some of the show is spoken, some of it is sung. It loosely follows the arc of my life and my work."

In addition to his music, Springsteen will also be reading excerpts from his 2016 autobiography, Born to Run, and performing other spoken reminiscences written for the show. In a statement, Springsteen said, "I chose Broadway for this project because it has the beautiful old theaters which seemed like the right setting for what I have in mind. In fact, with one or two exceptions, the 960 seats of the Walter Kerr Theater is probably the smallest venue I've played in the last 40 years."

Springsteen on Broadway will run five nights a week, Tuesday to Saturday. The official opening is set for Oct. 12, and the run is planned through Nov. 26. Preview performances begin on Oct. 3. Ticket registration for Springsteen on Broadway is now underway and will close on Aug. 27. Lucky fans will be notified on Aug. 29, and the tickets, priced from $75 to $850, will go on sale the next day.

The groping picture

Yesterday I reported on the court case taking place in Denver. It involves an alleged groping of Taylor Swift which led to her allegedly getting the DJ who did it fired. He says he didn't grope her at all.

TMZ posted this picture of the Denver DJ (David Mueller) and Taylor Swift at their meet and greet photo shoot. Look at where his hand is.

Your honor, no further questions.

Trouble for Sinclair/Tribune merger?

Resistance to this deal, which is still not officially completed, is coming from some truly unexpected sources. Tom Taylor's NOW column reports...

DOJ issues a “second request” to Sinclair and its target Tribune. That for sure delays the process that would let TV titan Sinclair add 42 television licenses plus Chicago’s talk radio station WGN/720. You wonder if the increasing heat from all corners of the spectrum is being felt at the Department of Justice. Progressives started protesting the deal when it was announced. But now Glenn Beck’s TheBlaze co-signs an objection to the mega-merger along with the One America News Network. Conservative-leaning Newsmax doesn’t like the proposal that would make Baltimore-based Sinclair by far the largest TV station owner... Sinclair would own 220 TV stations and cover 72% of U.S. households – far exceeding the FCC’s historic 39% limit. Meanwhile at WGN radio, they’re prepping to move out of Tribune Tower – something that will happen regardless of who owns WGN.

I almost don't care why the DOJ or FCC is suddenly developing a conscience. If this pause makes people look at the merger more closely, I'm all for it.

Contreras to the DL

My favorite Cub this season, catcher Willson Contreras, pulled up lame trying to beat out an infield single. He did the universal "hamstring grab" about ten paces from first base. The Cubs will announce sometime today how badly he's injured, but it looks like he's out for the rest of this month.

Starting to feel like this whole World Champion thing is not going to be a permanent condition.

Mancow and Cheap Trick

I'm not a Mancow listener, but I am a fan of Cheap Trick...

Right now! #MANCOW x #CheapTrick !! pic.twitter.com/pgjl4WJpYT

— MancowMuller (@MancowMuller) August 10, 2017

The Best Way to Deal with Impending Nuclear War

Thanks Ben Finfer. I needed this last night.

So we're clear on this: If the world ends due to nuclear war the Cubs are defending champs in perpetuity.

— Ben Finfer (@BenFinfer) August 8, 2017

Boden Out at CSN

From Robert Feder's column this morning...

In a surprising cutback, veteran Chicago sportscaster Chris Boden is out after 10 years at Comcast SportsNet Chicago. Boden hosted numerous pre/postgame shows, including ones for the Bears and Blackhawks, and served as an anchor/reporter for “SportsNite” and “SportsNet Central.” “We appreciate everything Chris has provided our network over the years and we wish him nothing but the best in his future endeavors,” CSN Chicago said in a statement Tuesday. Boden, who grew up in south suburban Burbank and graduated from Luther South High School and Columbia College, is an award-winning pro whose career has spanned the NFL Network and multiple Chicago television and radio stations.

I hate to see good people lose their gigs. Boden is a pro.

The Taylor Swift Trial

I've been following the trial of the Denver DJ who sued his former company and Taylor Swift after he was fired. Swift had claimed that he groped her butt during a photo session. The photo does look like his hand was rather low, but I was reserving judgement. He claimed to have a tape of the discussion with his bosses and I wanted to hear that. According to Radio Ink, that tape came up in the trial right away...

The trial between Taylor Swift and fired Denver morning man David Mueller officially began Tuesday. Mueller took the stand and was peppered with questions about destroyed evidence, as Swift’s team tried to damage his credibility right off the bat. They also attempted to portray Mueller as an angry man who wasn’t getting enough attention from the superstar singer.

Former KYGO radio host David Mueller testified Tuesday that he didn’t send all of the audio recordings of his meeting with bosses after he was accused of groping pop star Taylor Swift because he spilled coffee on the keyboard of his computer as they were being transmitted to Swift’s legal team.

As the father of teenagers, let's just say its a good thing for the DJ that I'm not on the jury. That sounds like something my boys would say.

A Proper Burial

Last night Bridget was out in the garage when she heard our dog Ivy get into a confrontation with another beast of some kind, and let's just say Ivy was the winner this time.

Bridget came in to get me. There was a large gray furry lump in the middle of our backyard. She wanted me to properly dispose of the body.

I took a close look at the vanquished beast, and it was pretty big. Its head was curled up beneath its body, but it appeared to be either a raccoon or a possum. At first I was just going to shovel it into a garbage bag, but since our garbage had just been picked up that morning, I didn't want a rotting carcass in our can for a whole week.

So I decided to bury it. I found a nice quiet spot on the side of our house and started digging. It was dark, so Bridget held the flashlight while I prepared the beast's final resting place. It had to be a pretty deep hole because it was a pretty big beast, so it took me a good twenty minutes.

When I finished, I started walking toward the beast to pick it up with a shovel. I was only about five feet away, when something rather unexpected happened. The beast looked up at me. It was not dead at all. It was a possum.

The possum calmly got up and waddled out of my yard. It had just been playing possum to avoid Ivy's wrath.

And now I've got a big hole in my side yard.

RIP Glen Campbell

There was a load of compromisin, on the road to his horizon. RIP Glen Campbell, one of the all time greats.

Dumbest Baseball Idea of All-Time

Just don't slide, boys!

This day in 1976, the #WhiteSox wore shorts for the first time (image via Total White Sox) pic.twitter.com/crHFM278PX

— Christopher Kamka (@ckamka) August 8, 2017

Turn It Up: Radio Tales 1946-1996

Bob Shannon's book about radio, which comes out on e-book August 16th through Eckhartz Press, features the greatest personalities to ever sit before the microphone. Among those superstars is Dick Biondi.

Bob reviews Dick's entire career, but the highlight for Chicago fans is a pretty great recollection of Dick's first stint at WLS-AM 890 from 1960-1963. During those years Dick was twice named Disc Jockey of the Year.

The book covers what Dick said to a weary Chicago the night it appeared we were headed for nuclear war, and he also explains what really happened when Dick left the station. It has nothing to do with a notorious joke (ask your mom about it...she probably knows the joke Dick supposedly said, even though he never actually did).

This Biondi retrospective is only one of the 58 (!) featured in "Turn it Up: Radio Tales 1946-1996". The e-book will be available for download on August 16.

On this day in 1974

This is an outtake of Nixon rehearsing his resignation speech. Tough to watch.

Inside the Park Homers

Incredible inside-the-park homer by Javy Baez last night in the Cubs game. After that, I saw this on Twitter...

#Cubs Inside the Park Home Runs since 1930, per @baseball_ref pic.twitter.com/q0x4mcF4Ll

— Scott Lindholm 📊 (@ScottLindholm) August 8, 2017

I was almost positive I witnessed Tony Campana hit one in 2011. So I looked for the evidence. Here it is...



(By the way, Scott has corrected his list and posted it on Twitter)

RIP Dick Locher

He was the artist behind Dick Tracy and so much more. Sorry to hear this news...

RIP: Dick Locher, Pulitzer Prize-winning Tribune cartoonist, dies at 88 https://t.co/j54xvCtRtr

— Ray Long (@RayLong) August 8, 2017

Bryce Harper to Cubs?

It's a pipe dream, but it's one I enjoy reading about, even in the New York Post...

Bryce Harper and his better half aren’t doing much to defuse those rumors of Cubs interest.

As the Nationals wrapped up their three-game series in Chicago on Sunday, Harper’s wife, Kayla, enjoyed Washington’s 9-4 victory alongside the spouse of Cubs third baseman Kris Bryant. In between innings, Kayla and Jess Bryant took to Instagram, teasing a possible reunion between their partners on the field.

“Fans want it … & we are more than good with this idea …,” Jess posted on her Instagram story, which was captured by Busted Coverage. She later shared a selfie with Kayla, along with the hashtag, “#HarperToTheCubs.”

Harper is a free agent after the 2018 season.

Chicago Radio Ratings

From Tom Taylor's NOW column...

Chicago witnesses quite a PPM performance from iHeart’s urban AC “V103” WVAZ - #1 overall (5.8-6.1-6.7). And #1 in every daypart except mornings with Steve Harvey. The #1 morning show honors go to the new #2 station overall, Hubbard’s hot AC “Mix” WTMX (4.6-4.6-4.7). Even with Kathy mysteriously missing from the Eric & Kathy show, the show wins 6am-10am. Third overall (and showing some gradual erosion from the first of the year) is CBS news WBBM/WCFS (4.8-4.7-4.4). It’s #2 in mornings, tied for second middays, but suffering from a seventh-place showing in PM drive. Nice lift to fourth for Hubbard’s classic rock “Drive” WDRV (3.6-3.9-4.2, and tied for third on weekends). That’s the best topline for “Drive” since November 2013. Fifth and pulling its best share since November 2014 is CBS Radio’s country WUSN (2.9-3.4-4.1). “US 99” is tied for second middays and runs second on weekends. While we’re on the subject of country, iHeart’s “Big” WEBG ties for fourteenth place (2.1-2.1-2.8). Speaking of ties, there’s the situation around the #6, #7 and #8 slots. Tied for sixth are CBS rhythmic “B96” WBBM-FM (4.0-3.9-3.8) and iHeart’s top 40 “Kiss” WKSC (3.7-3.8-3.8). Right behind is CBS Radio’s sports/Cubs baseball WSCR (3.7-3.8-3.7). The Score is second at night with baseball. Not a strong book for Tribune’s talk WGN (3.3-3.1-2.8, and tied in fourteenth place with “Big”). Cume lead is held by top 40 Kiss (about 2.15 million).

Doin' The Cruise

When Mitch Michaels was a disc jockey in Cleveland, he and Rod Stewart took a limo together. The conversation the two men had in that limo may have changed the trajectory of rock and roll history. What did they discuss? Find out in the upcoming book "Doin’ the Cruise: Memories From A Lifetime in Radio and Rock & Roll" by Mitch Michaels (with Ken Churilla). The book is available for pre order now!

Pre-order your copy today.

RIP Don Baylor

Former Cubs manager Don Baylor passed away after a long battle with cancer. He was 68 years old.

We had Baylor on the John Landecker show when he was the Cubs manager. Baylor was not exactly known for his great interviews, but he did light up when we talked about 60s and 70s soul music.

This is the write up from our Every Cub Ever feature at Just One Bad Century...

~Don Baylor 1949 (Cubs manager 2000-2002)
Baylor was a great player for the Orioles, A’s, Angels, Yankees, and Twins during his playing career—an all-star, MVP, and World Series champ, but never played for the Cubs.He was also previously NL manager of the year with the Rockies, but he only had one winning season (2001) in Chicago, and was fired with the Cubs mired in fifth place in 2002. He coached with several other teams after that, but never managed again.

Kayleigh McEnany Jumps From CNN to Trump

For the past two years she has seemingly been on every panel discussion on CNN. You'll remember her. She was the blond lady who believed that everything Trump said or did was fine, and that surely Hillary has done worse.

Well, Kayleigh has decided to eliminate the icky criticism part of her job, and just directly report the "real news" for the Trump organization. She will be producing "news reports" for Donald Trump's facebook channel that is 100% Pro-Trump all the time.

On the one hand I'd like to point out that Trump really is jumping the shark by doing this, but on the other hand, I'm so happy I'll never see her on CNN again, I think I'll just enjoy it.

Fox News Suspends Eric Bolling

You think there might be issues at Fox News? One of their prime time hosts, Eric Bolling, was suspended over the weekend for allegedly sending unsolicited texts of male genatalia to female colleagues. His lawyer's response was that Bolling (a Chicagoan, by the way) "doesn't believe he sent those". Not exactly a hard denial. (No pun intended)

You can read the accusations here.

Don't worry. There are no pictures at the link. Luckily it was reported by Huffington Post and not Deadspin. I clicked on Deadspin's Brett Favre article about the same subject a few years ago expecting to read what happened, and was blindsided by a sight I couldn't unsee.

Shkreli is Guilty!

In case you missed it over the weekend, on Friday a jury of his peers (which could not have been easy to find) convicted the most hated man in America Martin Shkrili of securities fraud.

Remember Martin? He's the smug little turd who raised the prices of AIDS drugs from $13.50 a pill to $750, and then was a dick about it when everyone revolted.

I'm guessing he'll be very popular in prison.

Say it ain't so, Hawk

White Sox announcer Ken "Hawk" Harrelson is in his final tour of some ballparks this season because he is retiring at the end of next year. He doesn't plan on ever going back to some of those ballparks. From the Sun Times...

But he won’t — and make sure you get this on your calendar, Jason Benetti — go back to Wrigley Field.

‘‘Ever,’’ Harrelson said Sunday. ‘‘Fenway is just a special place. Look at this ballpark. The only [visiting clubhouse] worse is Wrigley Field — the two worst clubhouses in baseball for visiting players. I’ll tell you this much: I’ll never go back to Wrigley Field again.’’

‘‘We’ve got three games over at their place [next season], and I told [chairman] Jerry [Reinsdorf] before we came on this trip, ‘I’m not going back to Wrigley Field,’’’ Harrelson said. ‘‘He said, ‘Well, you’ve got three games there next year.’ I said, ‘Well, we’re going to get rid of those.’

‘‘Worst press box, worst booths for television. It’s a joke; it really is. And so Jason is getting ready for those three at Wrigley. I will never step foot in that ballpark again. Ever.’’

Oh no! Whatever are we to do?