Friday, April 03, 2020

Free HBO Streaming

HBO is offering free streaming of many shows, nearly 500 hours of programming.

I get HBO, but I still might stream this to get Succession. I've been meaning to watch that, and for some reason, it's not on HBO On Demand.
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Those Were the Days


My latest contribution to Illinois Entertainer, an interview with "Those Were The Days" host Steve Darnall.

You can read it here.
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Thursday, April 02, 2020

Free Kicks--What's Happening Off the Pitch

Adam and Rick update the latest news about league closures, including Champions League, Premier League, and European Cup. [Ep65]

Listen to it here.
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Ed Farmer

Jeepers. Missed this last night. Another one is gone. They are dropping like flies now. Sad to hear the news...

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Adam Schlessinger

Heartbroken by this news: Adam Schlessinger passed away yesterday.

He was an incredibly talented songwriter. I met him in the mid-90s when the movie "That Thing You Do" (starring Tom Hanks) came out. Adam wrote that theme song, and was recognized with an Academy Award nomination. I love that movie so much, and if you've seen it, you know the entire concept of the film falls apart without that song. It had to be a song that sounded like a hit record from the 1960s. That wasn't so easy to write in the 1990s, but Adam did it. Here's the song...



At the time he was also in a band called Fountains of Wayne. I had never heard of the band, but they were playing at the Metro in Chicago, and that's how I got Adam on the show. At the time he lived in New York and I called information (remember that?) and sure enough, he was listed. So, he came into the studio at the Landecker show and spent a half hour with us. He was not a morning person. It was funny how much he wasn't a morning person. During the commercials he put his head on the counter and slept.

But...I bought his band's CD and it contained this incredible song...



I was hooked. I later bought every single thing they created, and there isn't a bad song among them. I have all their albums. It's a tragedy that they only had one hit, and it was this one...



It won a Grammy. Adam also played in a few other groups during the years, including the band Tinted Windows. Again, he wrote their songs, like this one...



I was impatiently waiting for a Fountains of Wayne reunion the past five or six years, but Adam wasn't just sitting around. He was working on the show Crazy Ex-Girlfirend. He won an Emmy for writing this song...



He also worked on Broadway. He wrote the theme song for the Tony Awards one year...



When he died Adam was working on the musical for The Nanny.

I saw the Fountains of Wayne perform once at Space in Evanston (thanks to my friend JoMarie who scored me a ticket). It was a great show and I was thrilled to see it, but Adam wasn't exactly a showman on stage. That wasn't his thing. He didn't take center stage. He was the writer. I get it. I can relate to that. I could relate to him.

I'm really upset that this friggin virus has taken him from us.

He was only 52.

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Wednesday, April 01, 2020

I'm collecting these

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Not an April Fools Joke

This is hard to believe...

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Tuesday, March 31, 2020

He's starting to lose his friends

Hard to disagree with this...



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Family Time

This is really good. If we could sing, I'd get my family together on a project like this...

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Hope this takes a load off

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Chris Cuomo

Hoping the President doesn't say something terrible about this. I'm not surprised it's beginning to hit the media. Hang in there Chris.

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Sad news

Fountains of Wayne is one of my all-time favorite bands. Hang in there Adam!

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My Corona

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Six Feet Baby

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Don't Spread it Around

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Monday, March 30, 2020

Who was the real Doctor Robert?

Eckhartz Press author Brent Petersen did the research, and shared it here.

For the non-Beatles fans among us, he's talking about this song...

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CoronaVirus myths

This a great resource to check out any rumors you might have heard about what does and doesn't work to prevent CoronaVirus.

Hat tip to Charlie Meyerson for putting in his excellent daily newsletter Public Square.
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Morning in Wrigleyville

This picture makes me realize even more how much I'm missing baseball...

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Sunday, March 29, 2020

Brilliant

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Bill Paige

The latest from Eckhartz Press author ("Everything I Know I Learned From Rock Stars") Bill Paige...

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Saturday, March 28, 2020

What he said

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Friday, March 27, 2020

My tickets have arrived

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What he said

Michael Rappaport's response to Trump's latest whiney tweet is pretty harsh. I probably wouldn't have chosen the same colorful language, but I don't disagree with the sentiment...

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RIP Jim Wynn

The Toy Cannon, one of my childhood favs, has passed away at the age of 78. Some of my favorite baseball cards...

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Thursday, March 26, 2020

RIP Curly Neal

Curly passed away today at the age of 77. RIP, Curly. The greatest Globetrotter.

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Joseph Gannascoli

This week's Minutia Men celebrity interview is with Soprano's star Joseph Gannascoli. He played Vito on the classic show.

Listen to it here.
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Sunset

It was a beautiful day in the Chicago area yesterday, and I took advantage of it by getting some much needed fresh air. (No Cigar--it doesn't feel right to smoke when everyone is suffering from a respiratory problem.) Also, I returned to my hobby of taking sunset photos...

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Wednesday, March 25, 2020

Wiener Circle

Everyone has to do their part...

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Best CoronaVirus PSA

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RIP Floyd

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Social Distancing in the UK

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Fox News Kills

For years I've been saying that Fox News is destroying America. When I said that I meant the demise of this country's discourse and decency has coincided directly with the rise of Fox News.

However, I never literally meant that Fox News was destroying America...until now.

Fox News pundits are the reason the president wants to ignore the scientists and open the country again.

Now it's not figurative. Now they really could be killing people.
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Tuesday, March 24, 2020

She will survive

I chuckled at this one...

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Playing Pepper at Wrigley

Looks like the early 1930s, based on that logo.

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Monday, March 23, 2020

Dick Pound

Dick Pound was trending earlier because he is part of the IOC announcing postponement of the Olympics...and because his name is Dick Pound. Still not as funny of a name as these three guys...

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Morgan Freeman

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Social Distance

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Tribute to Quarantined Chicago

Voiced by Rick Kogan...

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Sunday, March 22, 2020

The Real Dr. Fauci

Interesting interview with Dr. Fauci in Science Magazine. You should read the whole piece, but this is the part that got my attention...

Q: President Trump keeps saying that the travel ban for China, which began 2 February, had a big impact [on slowing the spread of the virus to the United States] and that he wishes China would have told us three to four months earlier and that they were “very secretive.” [China did not immediately reveal the discovery of a new coronavirus in late December, but by 10 January, Chinese researchers made the sequence of the virus public.] It just doesn't comport with facts.

A: I know, but what do you want me to do? I mean, seriously Jon, let’s get real, what do you want me to do?

Q: Most everyone thinks that you’re doing a remarkable job, but you're standing there as the representative of truth and facts but things are being said that aren't true and aren't factual.

A: The way it happened is that after he made that statement [suggesting China could have revealed the discovery of a new coronavirus three to four months earlier], I told the appropriate people, it doesn't comport, because two or three months earlier would have been September. The next time they sit down with him and talk about what he’s going to say, they will say, by the way, Mr. President, be careful about this and don't say that. But I can't jump in front of the microphone and push him down. OK, he said it. Let's try and get it corrected for the next time.

Q: You have not said China virus. [Trump frequently calls the cause of the spreading illness, known as coronavirus disease 2019 (COVID-19) a “China virus” or a “Chinese virus.”]

A: Ever.

Q. And you never will, will you?

A: No.
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Saturday, March 21, 2020

Minutia Men--An Indoorsman's Guide to CoronoVirus

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Friday, March 20, 2020

The Mooch Chimes In

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The Spanish Flu 1918

The last time the country was hit by something like this was The Spanish Flu in 1918.

Chicago Magazine has a great piece about how Chicago handled the crisis back then.
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Minutia Men Celebrity Interview--James Finn Garner

Rick and Dave interview New York Times best-selling author (and humorist) James Finn Garner. We talk about important things like the Rolling Stones and Roxy Music.

Listen to it here.
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Thursday, March 19, 2020

First Day of (Jack) Spring

Happy First day of Spring, on behalf of the only Cub ever named Spring….

~Jack Spring (Cubs 1964)
He pitched for seven teams in his eight big league seasons, and for exactly one month that team was the Cubs. They acquired Jack in May of 1964, and he pitched in seven games over the next few weeks. But then on June 15, 1964, Spring was called into the manager’s office and told he had been traded again. This time he was the throw-in in the trade that sent Lou Brock to the Cardinals. In St. Louis, Spring won a ring (although he didn’t make the postseason roster that year). Not sure what happened to that Brock character. One of the most miraculous stats of Jack’s career is this little tidbit: He once went 19 consecutive outings without recording a strikeout. That’s the longest streak since 1957.
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Made me chuckle

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Justin Kaufmann out at WGN

Justin Kaufmann has been let go by WGN, or more technically, his contract ran out and will not be renewed.

Sad to hear it. I enjoyed his show during summer nights sitting out on the deck.

He will be replaced by the host of the Wintrust Lunch...Ji Suk Yi.

(Photo: John Landecker & Justin Kaufmann)
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My (Not So) Favorite Things

Thanks to John Landecker for tipping me off to this one...

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Wednesday, March 18, 2020

Viva Italia!

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Fox News is a Disgrace

I could post one of these every day. It takes a pandemic to get through to some people. Others are still in make believe land.

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What a business

Last year Kevin Ryder & Bean Baxter, the morning hosts at KROQ in Los Angeles, were inducted into the Radio Hall of Fame.



Bean retired to move back to England, but Kevin and the rest of the crew carried on. Until yesterday...

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Tuesday, March 17, 2020

St. Patrick's Day

On St. Patrick's Day we salute EVERY CUB EVER with the first name Pat.

~Paddy Driscoll (Cubs 1917)
Paddy Driscoll is a football hall of famer, but he also got a cup of coffee in Major League Baseball thanks to the Cubs. In 1917, the team’s second season at what is now known as Wrigley, he played in 13 games and got 32 at bats. Unfortunately, he only managed three hits. Among the games he played in was the famous double no-hitter on May 2, 1917, featuring Hippo Vaughn and Fred Toney.

~Pat Hughes (Cubs announcer 1996-present)
Pat has been the radio play by play for the Cubs for nearly 20 years and before that he worked in Milwaukee on Brewers broadcasts with Bob Ueker. We interviewed him once and asked him to compare and contrast Bob Uecker and Ron Santo. This is what he said: “In some ways the two of them are similar: They’re among the most popular figures in the history of their respective cities, they’re both ex-players, although granted—a slightly different caliber—Ron was a great player and Uecker was more of a mediocre one. But I consider myself incredibly fortunate to have worked with both of them. In addition, I worked with Harry Caray for two years, and did Marquette basketball with Al McGuire. Those are some larger than life personalities. I’m lucky to have known and worked with all of them.” Pat will also be in the Hall of Fame someday.

~Pat Luby (Colts 1890-1892)
In his rookie season of 1890, Luby won 18 straight games for the Cubs (then known as the Colts). That was a strange year in baseball history because there were three professional leagues, including a Player’s League (featuring many former Chicago players). After that season Luby only 20 more games in his career.

~Pat Mahomes (Cubs 2001)
Mahomes was a well-traveled journeyman pitcher who lasted eleven seasons in the big leagues. He pitched for the Twins, Red Sox, Mets, Rangers, Pirates, and Cubs. His lifetime ERA was over five, and he never registered double digits in either wins or saves, but he pitched in over 300 big league games. With the Cubs, Mahomes was 1-1, with a 3.86 ERA.

~Pat Malone (Cubs 1928-1934)
Malone was a two-time 20-game winner with the Cubs and led the team to the 1929 and 1932 World Series, but he also hung out with Hack Wilson. When they weren’t playing baseball, they were either drinking or brawling. The stories are legendary. In Malone’s first season with the Cubs his roommate was Percy Jones. They didn’t get along. Jones insisted on getting a new roommate after Malone trapped some pigeons on a hotel ledge and put them in Jones’ bed as he slept. One night Malone and Wilson got into a huge fist fight in a hotel. They were walking down the hallway of their hotel, and Wilson laughed. Someone in a hotel room mimicked his laugh. Wilson and Malone broke into the room and beat the hell out of four men, until all of them were out cold. One of the men was still standing and Malone kept punching. Wilson pointed out that he was already knocked out. “Move the lamp and he’ll fall.” Malone moved the lamp, and the man fell to the ground. It didn’t end well for either man. Wilson was only 48 years old when he drank himself to death. Malone didn’t even last as long as Hack. He was only 40 years old when he died in 1943.

~Pat Moran (Cubs 1906-1909)
Moran was a member of the last two championship teams, the 1907 & 1908 Cubs, as their backup catcher. He later managed in the big leagues, and led the Cincinnati Reds to the World Series championship in 1919. It’s not Moran’s fault that the Reds’ opponent, the Chicago Black Sox, threw the series.

~Pat Perry (Cubs 1988-1989)
The Cubs got Perry in the trade that sent Leon Durham to the Reds. He was a member of the division champion 1989 Cubs team, but he was used sparingly out of the bullpen (19 appearances), and didn’t make the post-season roster. They released him in December of that year. He did manage to win two games and save two games during his tenure with the Cubs.

~Pat Pieper (Cubs P.A. announcer/1916-1974)
He was known for his trademark opener…”Tention! Attention Please! Get your pencils and scorecards ready and I will give you the correct lineups for today’s game.” He got the job in 1916 when the Cubs first started playing in what is now known as Wrigley Field, and he kept the job until his death in 1974–an incredible streak of 59 years. When he first began, he had to do his job with a gigantic megaphone (this was before a public address system had been invented.) He said the starting lineups to the crowd from third base, and then did the same thing on the other side of the field from first base. In 1932, the Cubs finally installed a public address system. Pieper was the PA for 6 World Series, but he also handled those chores for the twenty consecutive seasons the Cubs finished in the bottom half of the league (1946-1966). When he died shortly after the 1974 season (October 22nd), the Cubs had just finished their most successful stretch since their World Series days.

~Paddy Quinn (White Stockings 1877)
Paddy was 16 years old when the Civil War ended–living in his hometown of Chicago. He embarked on a baseball career by the time he was 20, and played for several teams before the National League was founded. Paddy was 27 when he played for the Cubs (then known as the White Stockings) for four games in 1877. Unfortunately, the outfielder only managed to get one hit in 15 plate appearances.

~Pat Ragan (Cubs 1909)
Ragan had a couple of good seasons as a starting pitcher in the National League, winning 15 games one year for the Dodgers, and 17 games for the Braves another. He spent just a fraction of one season with the Cubs–his rookie season. Ragan appeared in two games as a reliever.

~Pat Tabler (Cubs 1981-1982)
He was involved in the same trade that brought Warren Brusstar to the Cubs, though neither of them were the main bargaining chips. The Cubs acquired Steve Trout in that trade, and the White Sox got Dick Tidrow. Tabler ended up playing in the big leagues for 12 seasons, and won a ring with the 1992 Blue Jays. His nickname was Mr. Clutch.

~Pat Wright (Colts 1890)
Wright was a second baseman who played 14 seasons in the minor leagues, and exactly one game in the big leagues. On July 11th, 1890, just a week after his 22nd birthday, Wright started at second base for the Cubs (then known as the Colts). He went 0 for 2 with a walk. Chicago lost the game 6-0 in Boston.
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Chicago Radio Ratings

Robert Feder posted these today. For the full day-part breakdown, check his column...

1. WBBM 780-AM/WCFS 105.9-FM all news, 5.8 (5.4)
2. WTMX 101.9-FM hot adult contemporary, 5.4 (4.9)
3. WDRV 97.1-FM classic rock, 5.3 (5.3)
4. WVAZ 102.7-FM urban adult contemporary, 4.9 (5.2)
5. WLIT 93.9-FM adult contemporary, 4.8 (5.5)
6. WLS 94.7-FM classic hits, 4.2 (4.2)
7. WGN 720-AM news talk, 3.9 (3.8)
8. WKSC 103.5-FM Top 40, 3.7 (3.6)
9. WBEZ 91.5-FM public radio news talk, 3.6 (3.9)
10. (tie) WXRT 93.1-FM adult album alternative, 3.3 (3.1); WOJO 105.1-FM Mexican regional, 3.3 (3.4); WSHE 100.3-FM adult contemporary, 3.3 (3.6)
13. WUSN 99.5-FM country, 2.8 (2.6)
14. WSCR 670-AM sports talk, 2.7 (3.3)
15. (tie) WBBM 96.3-FM Top 40, 2.6 (2.6); WLEY 107.9-FM Mexican regional, 2.6 (1.9)
17. WBMX 104.3-FM classic hip hop, 2.5 (2.4)
18. WRME 87.7-FM soft rock oldies, 2.4 (3.5)
19. (tie) WKQX 101.1-FM alternative rock, 2.3 (2.2); WLS 890-AM news talk, 2.3 (2.3)
21. WGCI 107.5-FM urban contemporary, 2.1 (2.1)
22. (tie) WPPN 106.7-FM Spanish adult contemporary, 1.9 (1.5); WVIV 93.5-FM Spanish contemporary, 1.9 (1.5)
24. WCKL 97.9-FM contemporary Christian, 1.5 (1.2)
25. (tie) WEBG 95.5-FM country, 1.4 (1.6); WPWX 92.3-FM urban contemporary, 1.4 (1.4)
27. WMVP 1000-AM sports talk, 1.2 (1.4)
28. WFMT 98.7-FM classical 1.0 (0.9)
29. WMBI 90.1-FM Christian ministry, 0.8 (0.9)
30. WSRB 106.3-FM urban adult contemporary, 0.7 (0.8)
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Monday, March 16, 2020

A timely message

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Beatles Songs About Real Places


Thanks to Eckhartz Press author Brent Petersen for this great blog post: Beatles Songs About Real Places

I thought I knew everything about Beatles songs, but I didn't know a bunch of these details.
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Always remember to turn off your microphone

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Saturday, March 14, 2020

Minutia Men--St. Patrick's Day Special

This week's @MinutiaMen helps fill the St. Patrick's day void. Irish singer/musician Timothy O'Shea is in the studio with us playing some beautiful traditional Irish songs.

Listen to it here.

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Sure Sign of End Times

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Friday, March 13, 2020

Fox News is a Disgrace

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Free Kicks--CoronaVirus

All Premier League football is suspended until April 3rd, so this might be our last Free Kicks episode for a while.

Listen to it here.
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St. Patrick's Day

So, Chicago isn't painting the river green this year, and we aren't having a St. Patrick's Day parade, but your good pals Rick and Dave will be bringing Ireland to you via podcast. We interviewed Irish musician Timothy O'Shea today, and he played us some truly beautiful Irish folk songs. The show drops on Saturday. Be sure to check it out in the safe environs of your own home. Thanks to Mike Shevlin for lining this up for us. We really enjoyed it.
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Johnny Kaempfer

Had a busy day yesterday, but not too busy to spend the evening with son #2, Johnny Kaempfer. He turned 22 years old yesterday.

We all went out to dinner as a family (for maybe the last time in a long time) and saluted the young lad. He has turned into a very caring, big-hearted man. I'm very proud of him.
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Thursday, March 12, 2020

Why Don't You Wash Your Hands?

The latest parody song from John Records Landecker is called "Why Don't You Wash Your Hands" and you can probably guess what it's about. Vocals by Bob Stroud. Produced by Matt Bisbee. Great job, guys!

Why Don't You Wash Your Hands
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Wednesday, March 11, 2020

It's not just the flu



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Tuesday, March 10, 2020

Go Illini

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Inside Melania

The best part of being a publisher is the moment that an author gets to hold their book for the very first time. "Inside Melania" author Lauren LoGuidice had that moment this week. Congrats to her! (The book is available here)

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Monday, March 09, 2020

Minutia Men--Mitchell, Movies & Missing Millions

Rick and Dave interview sportswriter and author Fred Mitchell, and discuss a really unfortunate cleanup, a really inappropriate use of a public library, and Rick’s brush with football Hall of Famer Brian Urlacher. [EP170]

You can listen to it here.
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Clark Weber

Sorry to hear about the passing of Clark Weber. I worked with Clark for several years at WJMK/WJJD. He was such a nice man and had some incredible stories about the early days of rock and roll and rock radio. His story about the Beatles at Comiskey Park is one I’ve retold many times. RIP Clark. You will be missed.

Here is my 2007 interview with Clark. He tells the Beatles story and a few other great ones.
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Saturday, March 07, 2020

No Low is Too Low

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Friday, March 06, 2020

Free Kicks--No Longer Unbeaten

Adam and Rick discuss the end of Liverpool’s incredible unbeaten streak. [Ep63]

Listen to it here.
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The Cure

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Great Reviews for "The Unplanned Life"

Fellow authors, broadcasters, and educators review Badesch’s memoir

The book doesn’t even come out until next month, but the people who have read the galleys are gushing. The Unplanned Life is available for pre-order now…

“You may think you know Roger Badesch if you have listened over the years to his exact and artful news reports on radio, but between the covers of this book you will find so much more–a man of great depth, many passions and skills. His is a wonderful life that you can now share.”
–Rick Kogan, Chicago Tribune, WGN Radio

“The phrase ‘Been There, Done That’ has never been more true than when describing the indefatigable Roger Badesch. Not only is he a noted media figure, educator, and beloved character in the Chicago area, but with the publication of THE UNPLANNED LIFE he adds to that list Writing Superhero for sharing with us his very well-lived life through a story extremely well-told.”
–Tom Blomquist, Author of Silent Partners & Eye of the Storm

“Roger and I go back over 50 years to when he was a high school student and I was the TV Director for Evanston Township High School. Then again when I was TV Producer-Director for Southern Illinois University and Roger was an enthusiastic RTV Major. He worked on several of my shows including one with Billy Joel and one with the rock band Brownsville Station. I went on to co-create and direct PBS’ Austin City Limits, and Roger went on to become an anchor for WGN Radio News. His story is bound to be a good one!”
–Bruce Scafe, co-creator, Austin City Limits

“Chicago is a big, beautiful place. Roger Badesch has made it more beautiful. Roger has spent a lifetime of working with a generation of young people from some of the poorest and most violent neighborhoods on Chicago’s tough South and West sides.Roger’s innate ability to facilitate students and allow them to create honest, original stories predates Black Lives Matter; providing them with the tools to create critically acclaimed, award winning films, videos and media projects. These productions inspired and brought honor to his students, and the Chicago Public Schools. The current renaissance of film and video in Chicago and elsewhere can in part be directly connected to Roger.”
–Tim Tuten, Former Manager of High School Media Relations Chicago Public Schools / Former Director of Special Projects, Partnerships and Events U.S. Department of Education

“This book’s cover photo was taken on a night we’ll never forget. Trust us, we never had a night like that on the radio before or since and, along with our WGN radio listeners, were praying that Roger would survive. Spoiler alert: He did! In this book Roger shares the details of that night and other adventures, including his time with Chicago’s first black mayor, Harold Washington, and first woman mayor, Jane Byrne. “The Unplanned Life” of this man we’re so proud to call a friend was obviously part of a bigger plan. Thankfully, he listened to the universe and went along for the ride. Buckle up, it’s a good one!”
–Steve King & Johnnie Putman, award-winning Chicago broadcasters and authors

“Roger Badesch is like an onion. He has many layers and if you’re too close to him for any length of time you’ll cry. The tears will be caused by laughter, sympathy or the act of shaking your head wildly in disbelief. If you’ve listened to Roger on the radio, you’ve no doubt experienced all three. I know I have. With “The Unplanned Life,” Roger regales us with the story of a life that is funny, tragic, hopeful, at times idiotic, but always endearing. You’ll want to laugh with him, cry with him, hug him and shake some sense into him all at the same time. Finally we can stop saying “Wait, what did he just say?” when Roger finishes a story. We can re-read his various tales and marvel at how a kid from Chicago could have enjoyed such a full and undoubtedly unplanned life. Just remember, if he offers you a ride home in a snowstorm…take the bus!”
–Brian Noonan, Radio Personality/Comedian/Roger’s On-Air Foil
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I'd Like to See More of This

Wait for it...the reporter/anchor argument is the kind of thing you hear OFF the air all the time. Usually not ON the air.

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Wednesday, March 04, 2020

One Town that Won't Let You Down

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Mitch Michaels

This week's celebrity interview is with legendary rock jock Mitch Michaels.

You can listen to it here.
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Spring Training 1939

On this day in 1939, the Cubs arrived at their Spring Training facility on Catalina Island in California. They were the defending National League champions. During the time the Cubs trained in California, in the years before a big league team had moved out west, the Cubs were the toast of Hollywood. Every year they were sure to get a visit from one big movie or radio star. In spring training of 1939, their visitor was the biggest dummy in America, Charlie McCarthy, along with his ventriloquist Edgar Bergen. There are three Cubs Hall of Famers in the picture. Can you spot them? Gabby Hartnett, Billy Herman, and Dizzy Dean. (Dizzy is the one right behind Charlie looking down on him)

(Photo: Acme file photo)
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Tuesday, March 03, 2020

Never Trade These Two, Please

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My main man Arlo

I may actually watch Chicago Fire games this year. This is exciting news...



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Pervy Newsman

Look closely at the tabs on this tweet from Brit Hume. Whoops.

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Chris Matthews

I never have the TV on at dinnertime, but for some reason, I flicked it on last night and saw this live. Talk about a bombshell. When this statement ended, so did Chris Matthews' MSNBC career. Steve Kornacki was on the air, and looked totally shocked by what had just happened.

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Pat Cassidy


The March issue of Illinois Entertainer is out and features my interview with WBBM News Radio's Pat Cassidy.

You can read it here.
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Monday, March 02, 2020

Minutia Men--Inside the Comic's Mind

Rick and Dave talk to comedian Ross Bennett, and analyze what makes a comic tick. They also discuss a story that will give you nightmares, Dave’s impersonation of a bodily fluid, and Rick’s brush with soul singer Sam Moore. [Ep169]

Listen to it here.
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Schlachtfest 2020

Fulfilled my soccer emcee duties on Saturday night for Green White Soccer Club (for the 20th time or so).

A good time was had by one and all at Schlachtfest 2020. Congrats to our new Miss Green White, Audrey Nilsen. Audrey is the first 4th generation Green Whiter recognized. Her great-grandfather (Michael Melcher) was president in the early 60s, her grandfather (Horst Melcher) was president for twenty-plus years, and her mother Sonja was Miss Green White herself.

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Friday, February 28, 2020

Free Kicks



Figures a story about French soccer would somehow end up sexual...

Listen to it here.
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Wednesday, February 26, 2020

Siri Interview

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Ash Wednesday

On this Ash Wednesday, we salute the most famous Ash to ever play for the Cubs…(From Everycubever)

~Richie Ashburn 1927–1997 (Cubs 1960-1961)
While it was great to have the Hall of Famer Ashburn covering centerfield for the 1960 and 1961 Cubs, the lifetime .308 hitter was long past his prime. He put up those Hall of Fame numbers mostly for the Philadelphia Phillies. The stories about Ashburn from his early days are legendary. He loved hitting so much he slept with his Louisville Slugger when he was in slump. He was a speedy singles hitter who won two batting titles, finished second three times, and hit over .300 nine times. By the time he came to the Cubs, unfortunately, his career was declining and he no longer had the speed he exhibited early in his career. Ashburn was a five time all-star, but none of those appearances came with the Cubs. The Cubs let him to go in the expansion draft of 1962, and he finished his career as the only all-star on the worst team of all-time, the 1962 Mets. After his playing career ended, he became a beloved announcer for the Philadelphia Phillies. He died in 1997, two years after he was elected into baseball’s Hall of Fame. (Photo: 1961 Topps Baseball Card)
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Fat Tuesday celebration

We made reservations last night to take out the whole family for Fat Tuesday. Cajun food and New Orleans Jazz. Son #2 said he had other plans. Son #3 said he had too much homework. So it was just son #1, Bridget and me. Still had fun...

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Tuesday, February 25, 2020

Fat Tuesday

Happy Fat Tuesday! On this Fat Tuesday, we recognize the fattest Cub of all-time…(From EveryCubEver...https://eckhartzpress.com/shop/everycubever-new-2019-updated-edition/)

~Jumbo Brown 1907–1966 (Cubs 1925)
When Brown came up with the Cubs as a rookie, he immediately set a record. He was the heaviest player to ever play in the big leagues at that time; tipping the scales at 295 pounds. He may be remembered for his size, but Jumbo was actually a trailblazer in the big leagues. He was one of the first pitchers who was kept on a roster strictly as a relief pitcher. In the first three and last four seasons of his big league career, he didn’t start a single game.
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The Latest Eckhartz Press Book

Pre-order it here.

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Monday, February 24, 2020

Big Ten Fight Songs 1929

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Guilty

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