Everyone Loves Minutia Men

We taped our latest episode yesterday and it will drop this weekend. Meanwhile, here are some of the more recent reviews on iTunes. There are now more than 200 5-star reviews...

Great interviews
in iTunes by braceletbain from USA on April 11, 2019
Love the wide range of guests. What other podcast can you hear interviews with Mark Cuban, Cousin Oliver and the hooker from Fargo?


Not bad
in iTunes by travissmall from USA on April 11, 2019
Pretty good podcast for a mainstream show.

Fun stuff
in iTunes by treftyh from USA on April 8, 2019
Love that these guys interview guests. Totally different than the typical shows. Lots of laughs.

What a hoot. Dave and Rick rock
in iTunes by AforAmi from USA on April 8, 2019
Love this podcast. I’ve been listening for a year or so and they never disappoint. I’m glad it is catching on.

Fun Show
in iTunes by Jacob and Olivia from USA on March 29, 2019
Fun show with great banter. Very entertaining. Keep up the great work.

Not bad
in iTunes by shello1969 from USA on March 29, 2019
A good show that’s a perfect length for a commute

RIP Dr. John

The New Orleans musician has passed away at the age of 77.

Printers Row Past

Cara Carriveau on WLS-FM

I cheered when I saw this in Robert Feder's column this morning! Way to go Cara...

Cara Carriveau, a longtime favorite of Chicago radio listeners, is the latest familiar personality to sign on at WLS 94.7-FM, the Cumulus Media classic hits station.

She’ll officially debut July 4 as a part-time and fill-in host, according to program director Wade Linder, who confirmed her hiring Wednesday.

Cara and I worked together at the Loop years ago. She's good people. This picture is from last year when she bought Mitch Michaels' book.

The Final Piece?

Every Cub fan in Chicago was talking about this story last night: Source--Cubs, Kimbrel reach 3-year-deal.

Oh boy, oh boy, oh boy, oh boy.

It's the one thing they need to go up against the Dodgers in the playoffs.

Printer's Row Litfest

If you're coming out to the Printer's Row LitFest this weekend, look out for Eckhartz Press authors Bill Paige, Alex Burkholder, Randy Richardson, and Becky Sarwate-Maxwell. They'll be selling and signing their great books...

I have something in my eye

You maybe already saw this.
Tennis player Mahut losing at Roland Garros in front of his family, breaks down in tears.
His kid runs on court to hug him.
His opponent Mayer getting emotional.

Father and son walk away hand in hand.

Losing, winning, living.pic.twitter.com/YOE3ohKVGJ

— Tancredi Palmeri (@tancredipalmeri) June 4, 2019

Garry Meier filling in for Mancow

From Robert Feder's column...

Radio Hall of Famer Garry Meier will soon be heard again on WLS 890-AM, the Cumulus Media news/talk station. This time Meier will appear as a guest on Mancow Muller’s morning show June 21 and then fill in for Muller the full week of June 24, according to Stephanie Tichenor, program director of WLS. Quoth Mancow: “Radio’s greatest second-banana lands the greatest honor of his career — filling in for me. . . . This is very big for him!” Meier, who worked with Steve Dahl at WLS in the ’80s, spent eight years as Roe Conn’s afternoon co-host there before he quit in a bitter salary dispute in 2004. He’s been gone from terrestrial radio since 2014 when his five-year run ended at Tribune Broadcasting news/talk WGN 720-AM. In 2016 Meier launched a subscription podcast.

Rick with Bill & Wendy

Had a great time with Bill and Wendy today. Thanks so much for having me on. Listen to it here if you missed it: https://wgnradio.com/2019/06/04/rick-kaempfer-can-name-more-chicago-cubs-players-than-you-can/

Rick on the Radio

Tune in this morning between 11:30am--Noon on WGN Radio, and you'll hear me on with Bill Leff and Wendy Snyder. We'll be discussing my latest book "Everycubever'.

Janet Sutherland Madden in Ohio

This heartwarming reunion happened over the weekend in Columbus, Ohio. Eckhartz Press author Janet Sutherland Madden appeared at a book signing to promote her book "Nose Over Toes"--a story that chronicles her recovery from a ruptured brain aneurysm. Among the people who showed up was the first responder who saved her life back in 2004. She tells the story below...



Here are a few more photos from her book signing...



Janet also wrote about her Columbus trip on Linked In.

Night and Day

I thought this was kind of cool. You know how you often take two pictures of the same thing to make sure you got a good one? Well, these two pictures of my nephew Andrew were taken on Saturday night at his HS graduation, one after the other. The second one looks like daytime, but it's really lightning going off in the background...

Third of June

I always think of this song on this day...wish I didn't...but I do. (First line)

British Humor

Trump faces giant penis mowed into field near airport where he lands for UK state visit, in climate change protest https://t.co/LPbfXVOt48

— Jon Cooper (@joncoopertweets) June 3, 2019

Rick Kogan

The June issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and features my interview with Tribune/WGN icon Rick Kogan.

You can read it here.

WGN Walk of Fame

They named four new members last week. From this morning's RAMP newsletter...

Andrea Darlas, whose career as a news anchor, reporter and show host at WGN Radio spans more than 21 years; WGN marketing and sales pro Marlene Wells, who celebrates her 52nd anniversary with the station this October; "King John" Williams, who started at WGN as an intern, took over middays in September 1997 and moved to afternoons in 2000, and the late "Tenpin Tattler" Sam Weinstein, who hosted the longest-running radio program with one host. The show debuted on WCFL on August 24, 1935 as a 15-minute bowling program. In 1966, the show moved over to WGN Radio as a five-minute program on Saturday nights, where it ran until August 26, 1995. "There's unforgettable wisdom in each of this year's inductees," said Todd Manley, WGN Station Manager and VP of Content. "They are among the greatest WGN ambassadors and inventive entertainers." The Walk of Fame induction ceremony will be broadcast live from the Chicago Architecture Center on Friday, September 13 at 10am.

I will actually be on WGN Radio tomorrow morning at 11:35 discussing my book. I can pass on my congratulations in person.

People are Loving Everycubever

Back in the Blogging Chair

After a two week vacation, I'm back in the blogging chair this morning. I visited Spain, Croatia, Austria, Slovenia, England, and Detroit. Yes, Detroit, Michigan.

Here are a few highlights below...

Thanks Lin!

Hey @RickKaempfer Thanks for the rabbit hole. @Cubs pic.twitter.com/TxdL5cSaJw

— Lin Brehmer (@LinBrehmer) May 23, 2019

Taking some time off

You may have noticed that my blogging time has gone down a bit lately as I hustle my book around the area. Sorry about that. I do really enjoy blogging and staying on top of what is happening in the world.

Unfortunately, I have another adventure I'm embarking on beginning tomorrow, and I'll have limited time and access to this blog, so I've decided to take a two-week blogging vacation.

During my time off, there will still be some episodes of Minutia Men (including a brand new one tomorrow.) If you haven't subscribed to that podcast yet, please do. This week's episode features a chat with radio legend Fred Winston.

I will return in June with some hopefully cool stories of what I've been up to. Talk to you then!

Bright moon in Mt. Prospect... pic.twitter.com/8s6Ncj0pb4

— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) May 17, 2019

George Will

At his induction into Illinois Broadcasters Hall of Fame had a great chat with fellow Cub fan George Will. He quizzed me on Cubs players to see if they were in the book and was thrilled I included his favorite broadcaster Bert Wilson. Also thrilled I gave him a copy. He was still clutching it tightly an hour later. Thanks George!

A Cubs Birthday

A college friend of mine asked me to do her a favor yesterday. It was her sister's birthday, and she's a big Cubs fan. Would I mind signing a copy of my new Cubs book (EveryCubEver) for her and surprising her at her house with it? I did, and she was very excited. Gave me a tour of their great Cubs basement, and we swapped Cubs stories. Happy birthday Marcia. Hope it was a good one!

Zo-No!

Shocking news...

UPDATED: Cubs' Ben Zobrist cites 'inappropriate marital conduct' by wife in court filing https://t.co/NhRnJLSzTE via @suntimes

— Gordon Wittenmyer (@GDubCub) May 15, 2019

Please oh please at least let this mean the end of that terrible "Benny & the Jets" walkup music...

Chicago is not Trump Country

Great piece in the Washington Post today about the troubles Trump businesses are having because Trump is such a toxic name.

One of those is in Chicago. Trump Tower is hurting big-time. Nobody wants to be associated with it.

If you ever want to entertain yourself in Chicago, have a seat anywhere near Trump Tower and watch people walk by. Hundreds of them flip off the building every day. Every day. People are flipping off a building...just because his name is on it.

He claims numbers are down because Chicago's gun violence is scaring people away. That's pretty funny. Go to Trump tower and check out the neighborhood. It's packed every second. And it's completely safe.

Most Chicagoans just hate Trump.

So does most of the world.

That's just a fact. Sorry.

Every Cub Ever

My book "everycubever" is out now and available here: https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/everycubever/ It features mini-bios of literally Every Cub Ever, including today's birthday boy Bill North. Remember the year these two Cubs greats led the league in steals...(sigh)

Sunset in Mt. Prospect

One of my simple life pleasures is going out to my garage, putting on the Cubs game, having a cigar and looking out at the view of the sunset.

Everyone needs a little solitary thinking time.

This works for me.

RIP Tim Conway

He passed away at the age of 85.

With him, goes another important part of my generation's childhood...

Dave LaRoche

My book "everycubever" is out now and available here. It features mini-bios of literally Every Cub Ever, including today's birthday boy...

~Dave LaRoche 1947– (Cubs 1973-1974)
He was supposed to be the closer for the Cubs when they acquired him from the Twins before the 1973 season (for Bill Hands and Joe Decker), but LaRoche couldn’t do the job. His ERAs were 5.80 and 4.79 in his two seasons with the Cubs. Of course he managed to rediscover his touch after leaving Chicago. In the next five years he saved 90 games, pitched in the All-Star game for Cleveland in 1976 and 1977, and the playoffs in 1979 for the Angels. His sons Adam and Andy both played major league ball. (Photo: Topps 1974 Baseball Card)

Chicago Radio Ratings

Robert Feder posted the latest ratings in his column today. He has all the dayparts broken out too, if you'd like to check those out. Here are the all-day ratings...

1. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 5.9 (5.4)
2. WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 5.6 (5.3)
3. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 5.4 (5.3)
4. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 5.3 (5.8)
5. (tie) WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 3.9 (3.9); WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 3.9 (4.5); WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.9 (4.2)
8. WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 3.7 (2.8)
9. (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.3 (3.1); WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 3.3 (3.6); WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 3.3 (3.2)
12. WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 3.2 (2.9)
13. WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 3.1 (3.0)
14. WGN 720-AM news talk, 2.9 (3.1)
15. (tie) WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 2.8 (3.4); WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary, 2.8 (2.9); WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 2.8 (2.6)
18. WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.7 (2.6)
19. WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.5 (2.6)
20. WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.2 (2.2)
21. (tie) WLS 890-AM news talk, 1.8 (1.7); WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 1.8 (1.9); WPWX 92.3-FM urban contemporary, 1.8 (2.1)
24. WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.7 (1.6)
25. (tie) WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.2 (1.2); WFMT 98.7-FM classical, 1.2 (1.3); WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.2 (1.1); WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.2 (1.2)
29. WERV 95.9-FM classic hits, 1.1 (0.9)
30. WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 1.0 (0.9)

RIP Doris Day

Younger people probably don't realize what a superstar she was in the 1940s and 1950s. She might have been the most popular singer in the country. She was also a major box-office movie star. Doris Day passed away this weekend at the age of 97.

My mom has been known to hum and sing this song while she cleans. I think it's her all-time favorite (non-German) song. I've heard it all of my life...



How about this for minutia...

With Doris Day passing, Chubby Checker, Bob Dylan, Brigitte Bardot, Bernard Goetz and 2 of the 4 Beatles are the only people mentioned by name in We Didn't Start the Fire that are still alive.

— Jason Diamond (@imjasondiamond) May 13, 2019

Here's a great scene...

RIP Doris Day - Classic scene from "That Touch of Mink" featuring Doris Day and Cary Grant sitting on the bench with New York #Yankees legends Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris and Yogi Berra! (1962) #MLB #History pic.twitter.com/H7Okw0uiPB

— Baseball by BSmile (@BSmile) May 13, 2019

Liverpool

My favorite Premier League team came up one point short this year. It was one of the best seasons in Premier League history (only one loss all year), but it wasn't good enough to beat Man City.

On the other hand, Liverpool can win the Champions League with a victory over Tottenham. And they definitely won the cutest moment award with this...

Mo Salah's daughter scores in front of the Kop ❤️ pic.twitter.com/VjTgDmETj2

— ESPN FC (@ESPNFC) May 12, 2019

Minutia Men, Episode 134

EP134: Rick and Dave discuss the worst national anthem performance ever, a gator in yoga pants, Cubs owner Tom Ricketts gives the boys the VIP treatment at Wrigley, and an interview with a real-life rock star–The Buckinghams lead singer Carl Giammarese.

Listen to it here.

Charlie Meyerson

Congrats to my old WPGU pal Charlie Meyerson for picking up some more hardware at the Lisagor Awards last week. Robert Feder has the details...

Among other notable winners at the Peter Lisagor Awards was Charlie Meyerson, who picked up best radio newscast honors for The Chicago Public Square Newscast, a 60-episode online pilot series produced as an adjunct to his Chicago Public Square daily email newsletter. The other finalist in the category was WBBM Newsradio. Meyerson also had a hand in the winner for best podcast, Rivet Radio, where the veteran Chicago newsman works part-time as vice president/editorial and development.

If you don't subscribe to his Chicago Public Square newsletter, you really should. It's excellent.

RIP Peggy Lipton

Sad story. Peggy Lipton, the former star of Mod Squad and Twin Peaks, passed away over the weekend. She was 72 years old.

I'll never forget Peggy. She was one of the first people who made me realize I was straight. I had a serious crush on her during her days on Mod Squad. I was no older than ten at the time...

Daily Herald Part 2

Thanks again to Jim O'Donnell for mentioning me again in his column this week, and for giving the answer to that unbelievably difficult trivia question...

LAST WEEK THE COLUMN QUESTION WAS: What was the walk-up song of Cubs catcher Tom Lundstedt during his one full season (1974) with the Cubs?

That inquiry stemmed from the release of Rick Kaempfer's excellent new book "EveryCubEver" (Eckhartz Press, $25), which lists the 2,186 who have played for the ballclub since 1871 along with select minutiae about each.

The clue was: "Not the most energizing song in the solar system."

The most-popular wrong answer was "Space Oddity" by David Bowie. ("Ground Control to Major Tom.")

Among the more esoteric answers was "The Original Theme From Monday Night Football." "Lazy Moon" by Harry Nilsson completed that exacta.

Key jumpoff juncture was deducing whether "solar system" referred to "sun," "space and universe" or something even more cosmic.

"Sun" was correct. From there, exactly three winners went on to correctly adduce "Sunshine On My Shoulders" by John Denver.

The trio -- all of whom will receive a copy of "EveryCubEver" courtesy of Kaempfer -- are Cindy Menelle of Mount Prospect, Brian DeValk of Palatine and Kevin Kelley of Arlington Heights.

As for Kaempfer, he received his own singular award:

Cubs chairman Tom Ricketts called and had the energizing author and Eckhartz co-publisher Dave Stern sit with him at Monday night's Cubs-Marlins game.

Josh Reilly

My book "EveryCubEver" is selling like gangbusters at www.eckhartzpress.com . It features a mini-bio of literally every Cub that ever played for the team, including today's birthday boys. One of them, Billy Jurges, was shot by a fan. (Read his story today at www.justonebadcentury.com). But I think it's even more fun to read about some of the obscure players like this one...

~Josh Reilly 1868–1938 (Colts 1896)
When he arrived in Chicago in 1896 from San Francisco, the Sporting News provided a little background information about the 27-year-old rookie, saying he had been “traded for a horse when he played in California some years ago.” Then, he created a new legend for himself right out of the box. In his first big league game he started a triple play. Though he started with a bang, he was more of a shooting star than anything. After eight games, Reilly contracted typhoid fever, and just like that, his big league career was over. He lived another forty-plus years, but he never played baseball again.

Free Kicks, Episode 38

EP38: Adam and Rick discuss the final week of the Premier League season, and preview the summer ahead (World Cup, Champions League, and Europa league finals).

Listen to it here.

New music chart

For 80 years people have been talking about the Billboard Music Charts.

Well, beginning next week, there will be a competitor. This one already has a brand name. It's the Rolling Stone Music Chart.

Details are here.

I think KB is back

Kris Bryant walks it off with a two out three run home run in the 9th inning. Oh baby! pic.twitter.com/McGc6S4dcw

— Cubs Live (@Cubs_Live) May 8, 2019

Janet on the Radio

Feeling grateful to be featured in part of the national Jim Bohannon top rated radio show which featured my book! For more info https://t.co/VmwNwkrgCL https://t.co/RZ1x3i7GOH

— Sutherland Media (@Sutherlandmedia) May 8, 2019

Rick on the Radio

Went down to Lagrange last night to do an interview with Brandon Herman about my book "EveryCubEver". When it's posted on his midwestern network, I will post it here.

Thanks Brandon for having me on.

Clearly Not A Hoax

More than 400 former prosecutors believe Trump would face obstruction charges if he weren’t president, and signed a letter affirming their beliefs.

Now Trump is blocking anyone from testifying to Congress about anything, and is refusing to turn over his tax returns.


Still think this is a hoax? Is that how an innocent person acts? No.

He's still obstructing justice right before our very eyes.

What a night at Wrigley!

Thanks again to Tom Ricketts for asking me to sit with him in his seats so we could discuss my book. We talked baseball for nine innings. Just awesome. He is thinking of buying a copy of the book for all of his alumni. I could tell he really liked it. He was leafing through it the whole time.

Unforgettable night at Wrigley Field for me--even if the end result of the game could have been better.

Whoops

Game of Starbucks...

my favorite show in the entire world forgot a STARBUCKS COFFEE CUP ON THE TABLE WHILE FILMING pic.twitter.com/60z3pOCfg9

— zane (@zane) May 6, 2019

Kid K

I was there! Freezing, rainy, yucky day...but what a performance! https://t.co/xKeMGYKCFB

— Rick Kaempfer (@RickKaempfer) May 6, 2019

Minutia Men, Episode 133

EP133: Rick and Dave discuss Chef Boyardee, BSing rich guys, beer you’d never drink, all the Cubs named May, Rick’s brush with ex-Cub outfielder Jose Cardenal, and they interview humorist author Sheila Moeschen.

Listen to it here.

Free Kicks, Episode 37

EP37: Adam and Rick talk about the Player of the Year awards, the craziest game of the season, and take a quiz about the dirtiest players of all-time.

Listen to it here.

Stylz & Roman out at US-99

From this morning's RAMP Newsletter...

Entercom Country WUSN (US99)/Chicago has parted company with morning duo Stylz & Roman after nearly three years in the wake-up slot. Dougie Stylz (a.k.a. Doug Bobrowski) and Justin Roman caused quite the stir when they debuted on WUSN under former owner CBS Radio back on Sept. 6, 2016, replacing the previous longtime duo of "Ramblin' Ray" Stevens and Lisa Dent. After all, Stylz and Roman were both newcomers to the Country format, having spent the previous 12 years across the hall on Top 40 sister WBBM (B96), starting out as promotions interns before teaming up for nights, and later spending a decade in afternoon drive before making their big Country move. In a Facebook post, the guys expressed their gratitude, saying, "Thanks to both our B96 and US99 families for all the love! But most of all, thanks to YOU for listening over the past 15 years!"