Just One Bad Century--June 9

I went looking around this morning for reviews of the Cubs draft, and it doesn't appear the reviews are too strong.

SB Nation gave the Cubs an F for their first pick. Baseball America's analysis of him also won't exactly excite Cub fans.

Sports Illustrated named the Cubs and Pirates as the biggest losers of the draft.

This is really the only positive review I saw: Bleacher Report gave the Cubs a B+ in the draft.

I'm one of the people who bought into this whole rebuilding process, but I wouldn't be completely honest if I didn't admit that I am beginning to have my doubts that they know what they're doing. I hope I'm wrong, but that stomach-rumbling anxiety is back again. I don't think it will go away until one of these draft picks actually shows up at the big league level and does some impressive things.

This past weekend while the Cubs were winning five in a row and celebrating the 1940s (with a return visit by 97-year-old Lennie Merullo!), This Week in 1945 was posted at JOBC. Read about the recommendation NOT to drop the A-bomb, Gwendolyn Brooks, George H.W. Bush, and a Cubs prospect taken away by the war. There's also a clip of a very politically incorrect Danny Kaye movie that came out this week.

Today in Wrigley history goes back to memorable games in 1963, 1977, 1978, and a memorable event in 2012.

Today's Historical Event is one of the biggest stories in Chicago history, the murder of Chicago Tribune reporter Jake Lingle. There's also a bonus event--the moment Joseph Nye Welch confronted Senator McCarthy and said: "Have you no decency, Sir?" Where were the Cubs?

Today's Cubs birthdays include the Cubs shortstop just before Ernie arrived, a man who batted three times in one inning, cups of coffee from the 40s, 60s, and 00s, and one of the Cub players who contributed to the playoff run of '07 and '08. That player is also featured in the A/V club today.

Printer's Row Lit Fest

I'll be at the Printer's Row Lit Fest tomorrow afternoon along with fellow Eckhartz Press authors Joel Daly, Chuck Quinzio, Randy Richardson, David Stern, and Dan Burns. Look for us in the Chicago Writer's Association tent from 10am -- 2pm. Stop by and say hello.

The Real Curse Uncovered

I just had a thought regarding the Cubs leaving WGN after 90 years. Maybe WGN is cursed, and not the Cubs! When GN came aboard, it had only been 16 years since they won it all. I'm restarting the clock at 16 years, and considering this curse officially broken.

Make some room on that trophy shelf, Mr. Ricketts.

Find Your Porn Name

You can call me "Tasty Screamer"

I'm Not The Only One That Hates Amazon

Add Stephen Colbert to the list.

They just indiscriminately change prices, change payments, and more. But as much as I complain about them, Colbert's publisher is really getting the full wrath of amazon. It's a great example of why a monopoly is ALWAYS a bad thing.

I've got to get some of those "I didn't buy it on amazon" stickers.

Casey's Critical

From this morning's Radio Ink...

CNN is reporting that Kasem is in critical condition at a hospital in western Washington, where a spokesman for that facility says Kasem is alert and appears comfortable at this time. "Mr. Kasem is receiving antibiotics through IVs, blood pressure support medicine and care for his bed sores." Kasem was admitted to the hospital Sunday after Kerri Kasem retrieved him from a home where he and his wife were staying with friends. Kerri Kasem friend Danny Deraney told CNN Casey Kasem's brother and others were en route to Washington. When asked if they feared Casey Kasem might die, Deraney said it could be his last moments or he could get better.

Pat Foley's in the Hall of Fame

From Today's Tom Taylor column...

Pat Foley is undoubtedly bummed that his Chicago Blackhawks couldn’t quite squeeze through to the Stanley Cup Finals – but he must’ve been happy to get the phone call that he personally will be entering the Hockey Hall of Fame in Toronto. He’ll be given the Foster Hewitt Memorial Award at ceremonies on November 17. Foley’s called the games for the Blackhawks for almost all the time between 1981 and now.

Well deserved! Foley makes hockey even more fun.

This Year's Radio Hall of Fame Class

The list is here.

Only one of them has a connection to Chicago this year (Dick Orkin), and for the first time, the dinner will be held in LA.

I say go to LA. I have no desire to spend $350 to attend this event.

Just One Bad Century--June 6

Another draft is in the books, and the Cubs picked someone I didn't see anyone predicting they would take on their mock draft boards. Meet their first pick (4th overall): Indiana University catcher/outfielder Kyle Schwarber. The Cubs say they had him ranked #2 on their board, and #1 as a hitter. Although, it sounds like they don't think he's going to be a big league catcher. More likely a left-fielder.

But what about pitching? Don't the Cubs need pitching? Yes they do. So, meet their second pick (45th overall): University of Maryland's Jake Stinnett.

I'm still willing to give Epstein/Hoyer/McLeod the benefit of the doubt. I watched a lot of reactions last night via twitter and on television, and I haven't seen too many experts claiming these picks were horrendously bad (like they correctly predicted some previous pre-Theo Cubs drafts had been). How bad were some previous drafts? Check out this analysis.

Today in Wrigley History we go back to 1923 and one of the foggiest days in the ballpark's history.

You'll be seeing this in the news all day today--it's the 70th anniversary of D-Day. It's why we chose it as today's Historical Event. Where were the Cubs?

The A/V club features a fun old baseball record we uncovered on Youtube. Ralph Houk explains pitching to kids.

And finally, Today's Cubs Birthdays are a smorgasbord of Cubs fun: A man called Little Eva, a player who ran to the wrong base after hitting the ball, a Cubs draft pick who was a bust as a pitcher but made it back to the big leagues as a hitter, Lefty, and a cup of coffee from the 1950s.

World Cup Fever

With the World Cup starting up in a few days I thought it would be fun to watch this commercial from the last World Cup. In the final few seconds of this ad, you'll see my son Sean (representing the future of soccer). He was 8 years old at the time, and he had the toothless youngster look they were looking for. We went down to the lakefront to film this with the ad agency at the break of dawn on a Saturday. His payment was new Nike cleats and a US Soccer jersey.

Today's Best Tweets (June 5)

Here are some tweets that caught my eye today...





Darren Marlar ‏@darrenmarlar 2m
It's NATIONAL SHUT UP DAY. But if I didn't listen to the boss the other 364 days of the year, what makes anybody think I’d do it today?

Tristyn Bloom ‏@TK_Bloom 1h
Need some coffee in your pot? Cannabis coffee coming soon: http://dailycaller.com/2014/06/04/need-some-coffee-in-your-pot-cannabis-coffee-coming-soon/ …

Bob Nightengale ‏@BNightengale 13m
The draft bonds the Tom Gordon family with Nicholas going in 1st round tonight. http://usat.ly/1hcMp3Z

Russell A. Carleton ‏@pizzacutter4 41m
I command you to read: Our official @PerfectGameUSA mock draft @baseballpro. Now you don't even have to watch! http://bit.ly/SxyIBs

Tim Siedell ‏@badbanana 21m
Forcing my kids to sign nondisclosure agreements. If anyone's going to write embarrassing stories about this family, it's me.

Newsweek ‏@Newsweek 10m
Top 5 green companies in the U.S.:
1. @Allergan
2. @Adobe
3. @BallCorpHQ
4. @Ecolab
5. @SigmaAldrich
More: http://j.mp/1ulXHp8

SPN ‏@espn 16m
Don Zimmer spent six decades with 12 teams. He was married on the diamond. He was baseball personified. pic.twitter.com/6hNXHEQ7Sq

TomLoxas ‏@TomLoxas 3m
“@DEvanAltman: For @TomLoxas and For me, Don Zimmer was the face of baseball...http://www.chicagonow.com/cubs-insider/2014/06/former-cubs-manager-don-zimmer-was-the-face-of-baseball/ … pic.twitter.com/FtWjCLcKlT”

Amy Guth ‏@amyguth 4m
Tremendous note spotted at work: @ Tribune Tower http://instagram.com/p/o3iWWDCP7x/

daveweigel ‏@daveweigel 44s
Clearly it’s “football” and “American football.” Like George Will says, our game combines 2 worst things about USA: Violence and meetings.

25 Extremely Awkward and Unintentional Sexual Shadows [PHOTOS]

You can see them here. All are innocent. None look like they are.

Throwback Thursday

The 1983-1984 WPGU Radio (Champaign-Urbana) Managers featuring (in no particular order) Dane Placko, Phil Manicki, Mark Bretsch, Dave Priest, Paul Sevigny, Chris Aronson, Greg Sraders, Pam Derk, Karen Tockman, Debbie Schoenecker, Gary Schwartz, Margie Mueller, Sheryl Spetnagel, Ken Gorelick, Joe Miller and me. Pardon the misspellings. It's been thirty years. Don't I get credit for remembering all the names?

The Loop's New Boss

His name is Wade Linder, and he comes to Chicago via Minneapolis. Robert Feder has the details.

Wayne Juhlin

Nice piece in the Sun-Times today about Chicago radio/advertising/voice over legend Wayne Juhlin. He passed away a few weeks ago. A big loss.

The Lit 50

Every year New City comes out with their Top 50 list of literary figures in Chicago. You can read it here.

Once again, Eckhartz Press publishers Rick and Dave didn't make the list. I'm going to blame the pothole store this year.

The high-falutin folks don't appreciate good shtick.

Just One Bad Century--June 5

Sad news about Don Zimmer. The Sporting News has a very nice obituary today. He'll always be remembered in Chicago for his days as manager of the 1989 "Boys of Zimmer", but he also played for the Cubs in the early 60s. That story was featured on Just One Bad Century on his last birthday, January 17. RIP, Popeye.

Today in Wrigley history features a game that was immortalized in film in 1985. Read about the day they filmed Ferris Bueller's Day Off at Wrigley Field. And watch the scene at the A/V Club.

We also posted a whole new week's worth of historical events. Today's historical event is the assassination of Robert Kennedy. Where were the Cubs?

Today's Cubs birthdays include a famous Cubs fan, an important trading chip, a cup of coffee from 1890 (yes, 1890), and the manager of the 1918 pennant winners.

But most die-hard Cubs fans are focused on one thing today: draft day. Who will the Cubs pick? At #4, it's guaranteed to be a great prospect.

What 1939 Thought 2000 Fashion Would Look Like

I think it's safe to say they nailed it...

Speed Limit Math

It's not a tough one, boys and girls, but maybe not something you should be figuring out while driving. Thanks "KS" for sending it...

Just One Bad Century--June 4

The big news yesterday was that the Cubs are parting ways with WGN Radio after 90 YEARS at the radio station. Robert Feder has all the reasons why. Starting next year they will be on WBBM-AM 780. WGN-TV, by the way, is also getting rid of Cubs games so that they can become a generic cable television channel. I suppose the financial details are what they are, but I can't help but think that the Cubs helped build both of those institutions. It wasn't the other way around. I guess we'll find out if I'm right or wrong. If the Cubs really do stage a revival (and we're kind of banking on that, aren't we?), both the radio and television station will rue this decision. If they don't, then they did what they had to do.

On JOBC today we posted a whole new This Week in Wrigley History. Today's entry goes back to 1983, 1985 and 2003. That 2003 entry is featured at the A/V Club.

Today's Cubs birthdays feature two Cubs catchers who were born on the exact same day and were traded for each other. There's also an Arnold, an Orlie, and a Chang-Yong. It's safe to say this is the only day that three Cubs players with those names were born.

Today's Historical Event is the passing of the 19th Amendment granting women the right to vote. Where were the Cubs?

In current Cub news, the team wisely (finally) released reliever Jose Veras. That one just didn't work out.

There's some news on the farm today too. Kris Bryant is tearing it up at Double A Tennessee. Will he be up with the big club before the end of this month? And there's good news on the CJ Edwards front too. His MRI came out clean.