On the Beat with Lisa Marie Varon

When we last saw Lisa Marie Varon, she was choking me.  I probably deserved it and I know I enjoyed it!  Okay, yes, it was all in fun.  Lisa Marie Varon is a lot of fun!
Also known by the ring names Tara and Victoria, she has won the woman's championship multiple times in the WWE and in TNA.  She recently won her first tag team title and is proudly wearing and showing the belt in our interview video.
Last year, we discovered that she was moving to Chicago and hoped to be opening a restaurant here.  When we saw her at Wizard World, she updated us on the recent events in her life and what was in her future.
This isn't just your average "update" video.  First, nothing with Lisa Marie Varon could ever be average!  She is a true champion in and out of the ring.
Besides that though, you will see Brian Knobbs of the Nasty Boys interrupting the video.  You will also see former WWE wrestler Torrie Wilson in the background meeting people at her booth.  Make no mistake though, Lisa Marie Varon is the main focus and is the star!
After you watch the video below, check out RealLisaMarie.com and Lisa Marie Varon's Facebook page to learn more about her.

Celeb Jersey Cards #72 Chris Chelios x 2

This is a regular series which combines my love of trading cards with my interest in celebs.  The baseball regular season ended yesterday and once again, both Chicago teams will be watching the playoffs on tv.  Today's featured celebrity is a Chicago kid who had a little experience in the playoffs.

Chris Chelios was born in Chicago and went on to play 26 seasons in the NHL.  He was on a Stanley Cup winner three times (although never in Chicago).  He played in the playoffs every season except two in Chicago (naturally) and his last season with the Atlanta Thrashers.
Naturally both of his baseball cards would have to show his championship trophy.  For the Cubs, I figured Cheli would have been an outfielder.  There seemed to be a revolving door out there for the Cubs back then.  Cheli would have been a steadying presence.

Chelios might have preferred playing for the Sox, who were closer to his south side roots.  The Sox had a logjam at 1st base back then, including my favorite Mike Squires, but Chelios would have at least bridged the gap until Frank Thomas came along.

Backup Catcher Hall of Fame Class of 2011

The Backup Catcher Hall of Fame was started by Cuzz Gekas and me to honor the greatest backup catchers of all time.  The backup catcher is an underrated, but crucial position on a team.  While every team has at least one backup catcher, only a select few have distinguished themselves in such a way as to merit consideration for the BCHOF.
In 2010, we inducted the inaugural class of the BCHOF.  Bob Montgomery, Bill Plummer, Duffy Dyer and Jeff Torborg comprised the first class of inductees.  After much research and discussions, we have decided on five inductees for the class of 2011.  Without further adieu, I give you the 2011 BCHOF class!

Ron Hodges has the rather unique distinction of playing fior one team, the New York Mets, his entire career (1973-1984).  Hodges played in the World Series in his rookie season.  He started his career backing up Mets stalwart Jerry Grote and continued in that role for John Stearns.  He actually outlasted Stearns and was mostly a starter in 1983 before finishing his career in 1984.  He batted .240 with 19 HR's and 147 RBI's and was known as a dependable backstop and the consummate teammate.

Tom Lampkin played for six teams beginning with the Cleveland Indians in 1988, before retiring in 2002 with the San Diego Padres.  The 2002 season marked Lampkin's second tour of duty with the Padres and he established career highs in virtually every category for the woeful Padres.  For his career, he hit .235 with 56 HR's and 236 RBI's in 1,796 at bats.  He had a strong arm and in 1996 led the league in caught stealing percentage (51.5%) playing in 53 games as a backup for the San Francisco Giants.  He is currently a cable Fox Sports analyst for the Portland Beavers of the Pacific Coast League.  He was originally signed by the Indians Scout Dave Roberts, former backup catcher and infielder.

Doug Mirabelli played 12 seasons (1996-2007) with four teams, but is probably best known for being knuckleballer Tim Wakefield's personal catcher with the Boston Red Sox.  As a result, he had the dubios honor of leading the league in passed balls in 2003 and 2004.  Nonetheless, he served a valuable role and actually showed some pop at the plate, hitting 58 HR's in 1,456 at bats for a .231 batting average.  He was a member of the Red Sox World Series champions in both 2004 and 2007.  He is currently coaching high school baseball in Traverse City (MI).

Mark Parent was the quintessential backup catcher who played for seven teams during his 13 year career (1986-1998). Although he hit only .214, he possessed good power, smacking 53 HR's in 1303 at bats in his career, in addition to providing solid defense. His physically imposing size (6'5, 215) gave him an advantage in plays at the plate and in blocking pitches in the dirt.  Early in his career there was speculation that he could become a full-time starter, but Parent quickly settled into his role as a top notch backup behind the plate.  Like many backup catchers, his knowledge of the game has provided additional opportunities and he is currently managing in the Philadelphia Phillies organization.

Lenny Webster began his career with the Minnesota Twins, serving as a backup for Brian Harper.  Webster played for five teams over a 12 year career (1989-2000).   He was a reserve on the 1997 Baltimore Orioles AL East division champs and also backed up notable catcher Darren Daulton in Philadelphia.  Webster had 3 separate tours of duty with the Montreal Expos, including his last season.  The Grambling State product hit .254 with 33 HR's over the course of his career.  Webster was one of the active players wearing number 42, when it was retired by Major League Baseball in 1997 in honor of Jackie Robinson.

We are very proud of the 2011 BCHOF class.  Each of these five catchers earned his induction through years of superior service outside of the limelight.  The BCHOF is a work in progress and we look forward to another solid class in 2012.

On the Beat with Hacksaw Jim Duggan

Last week, I featured the Nasty Boys cutting a promo for the Hulk Hogan and Friends event on October 8.   Hogan will be joined by Brutus Beefcake, Greg Valentine, Koko B. Ware, the Nasty Boys, Eric Bischoff and Hacksaw Jim Duggan for an entertaining evening with wrestling legends.
I got the promo poster from the Nasty Boys and after having them sign it, I brought it over to Duggan to sign.  While there, we had a little fun with Hacksaw by asking about Bischoff.  We also asked him if he would give us his trademark "Hoooooooooooooo!"
This is typical of the kind of fun you can have at Wizard World.  The celebrity guests really give a great effort to please the fans.  It is also the type of response you usually get from wrestlers, especially like Duggan.  I have said it before...wrestlers generally are some of the nicest celebrities out there.
After watching the video below, please check out HulkandFriends.com for more info on their upcoming event and for other great stuff.

Friendly Encounters

This is a regular series featuring my friends who have met celebs.

When we last saw Nick Vernveniotis, he was posing with "Elvis Presley" in Memphis.  Nick has also been photographed with legendary Cubs fan Ronnie "Woo Woo" Wickers and with the legendary animated Simpsons family.
Nick really hit a new high (or is it low) in 2008, when he posed with e hotdog mascot.  Do hotdogs really need mascots?  Especially at a baseball game, you don't need a hotdog mascot to entice you to buy a hotdog.  However, if you must have a hotdog mascot, please make it a good one.  Nick deserves better (and so does Johngy's Beat).
Even with the cheesy hotdog mascot (cheesedog?), we are always happy to include Nick on this site.  He's an old favorite.

Nick Verveniotis and the Hot Dog mascot in Chicago, IL-Summer 2008.

Bear Down Sunday #3

The Bears are facing the Green Bay Packers today.  The Bears are 1-1 and looking questionable, while the Packers are 2-0 and looking solid.  This is one of the longest, most heated rivalries in all of sports.
No two players better embody this rivalry than Dick Butkus and Ray Nitschke.  Both men were born in the Chicago area, went to the University of Illinois, played middle linebacker, played with only one team and were inducted into the Hall of Fame.  The debate still rages as to which player was better.
When I found out that Butkus would be appearing at Caesars during my trip to Las Vegas, I made the plan to finally meet the legend.  This was one we all enjoyed.  Butkus was funny, friendly and talkative.  It was a real pleasure meeting him and even more because we all did it together.

 Scott, Matt and Jean Parker, with Dick Butkus and me in Las Vegas, NV-March 2011.

Celeb Jersey Cards #71

This is a regular series which combines my passion for bubblegum cards with my interest in celebs.  Tomorrow, the Chicago Bears face the Green Bay Packers, renewing one of the oldest and great rivalries in sports.

Representing the green and gold is James Van Der Beek, an actor perhaps best known from tv's Dawon's Creek, a show filmed in North Carolina posing as a town in Massachusetts.  Adding to the geographical confusion is Van Der Beek's connection to Green Bay, since he was born in Connecticut.  At least there is a sports connection, as his father James VanderBeek pitched in the Dodgers organization in the 70's, compiling a record of 41-40.  Let's hope the Packers are equally mediocre tomorrow.

Representing the navy and orange is actor Bruce Willis, whose connection to the Bears is equally confusing.  Bruce's ex Demi Moore's current husband Ashton Kutcher is a Bears fan.  The trio has been seen together on the sidelines.  Don't ask me.  I just hope the Bears don't Die Hard (sorry).

On the Beat with Sheryl Steines

I was really excited about meeting Sheryl Steines, an author from the Chicago area, at Wizard World.  I love finding authors early in their careers and watching as things develop.  Being able to actually talk to Sheryl made it very appealing.

Her first book, The Day of the First Sun, was released in November of 2010. It is a supernatural murder mystery.  The best description I saw for the book was that it was a mystery about "the magical murder of a non-magical princess".  The book appealed to me, because it seemed to be something unlike anything I have read.

Sheryl was very kind and receptive.  We discussed how she got into writing, The Day of the First Sun and her future plans.  She did give us a little hint of things to come when she said that the two main characters from The Day of the First Sun, Annie Pearce and Cham Chamsky, would be returning, but it won't necessarily be a murder mystery.

Since I have been following her blog, I discovered she had a great time at Wizard World and would be appearing again in 2012 with her next novel!  That is exciting news and hopefully I will have the opportunity to talk to her again.

I hope you enjoy learning a bit more about Sheryl in our interview below.  After watching it, please check out SherylSteines.blogspot.com or Sheryl's Facebook page for more info about her

On the Beat with Kevin LaPorte and Amanda Rachels

While doing research for the various comic cons I would be attending, I came across a new project called "Clown Town".  It had an intriguing premise, killer clowns with a purpose, which would be avenging abused children.  The concept pulle me in and the story kept me glued.  I loved it.
When I discovered that the creators, Kevin LaPorte and Amanda Rachels would be at Wizard World, I had to meet them and to learn more about them and their other projects.  As much as I enjoyed Clown Town, I soon learned it was just the tip of their creative iceberg!
They are also working on The Blind Eye, "a web comic tale of super heroic horror".  More specifically, it is the tale of a post-hurricane flooded city which is protected by masked vigilantes.
Another project is the Super Power Hour, a comic of topical satire.  Borrowing The Blind Eye's Headliner and Newsmaker, Super Power Hour is full of sarcasm and dark humor.
My interview with this talented and busy pair delves into several of their projects.  I couldn't pry any scoops out of them, but I predict new and interesting stuff is on the horizon.  After watching the video, check out BlindEyeComic.com for more info and keep checking back there for the latest news on Kevin and Amanda.

On the Beat with David Willis

Yesterday, I wrote about the fun of stumbling upon greatness at Wizard World.  The credit for today's bit of serendipity goes to JayHawk Evans, who found web cartoonist David Willis in the artists area.
David is the creative force responsible for such gems as It's Walky!, Shortpacked! and Dumbing of Age. 
It's Walky! is not in current publication.  It involved a Fictional alien-fighting organization.
Shortpacked! is set in a toy store and is more R-rated than standard comic strips.  It also occasionally lampoons other comics such as Funky Winkerbean.
Dumbing of Age is about college freshmen in a co-ed dorm.  It is fresh and fun, not connected to his other works and it is updated Monday through Friday.
JayHawk talked to David about his latest projects in the video below.  After watching the video, be sure to check out Shortpacked.com and DumbingofAge.com for more laughs and more info on David Willis.

On the Beat with Jason Michaels

We interviewed Jason Michaels in 2009 in Houston and recently had the pleasure of talking to him again.  Michaels took a minute from his batting practice to answer a couple of our questions.
We asked him about the music that plays when he comes to bat.  It is the entrance music that is used in the WWE for the wrestler known as the Big Show.  Did Michaels pick out that music because he is a fan of the WWE?  To find out, you'll have to watch the video below.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebs.

In October of 2009, I trekked out to Oaks (PA) for the Ultimate Collectibles Show, a huge celebrity convention.  This was one of the best conventions I have ever attended.  It had so many celebrities from all fields of entertainment and they were all so accommodating.  It is also where I met Michele Mupo for the first time.
Michele (aka Fuchsia) is a lot of things...singer, song-writer, sitcom writer, agent to the stars and certainly much more.  Michele has a ton of musical talent.  You can check that out for yourself by going to her MySpace page for a listen.  She is also the President of MUDA Multimedia Entertainment LLC.
Currently, Michele is working on her Keep the Peace video project.  Michele wants to make a change and help create peace.  She wants to make the music video to raise awareness to our troops.
You can help Michele with the project by going to the Keep the Peace Music Video project page.  I think Keep the peace is great and so is Michele.  Check out Michele's site and check out her Keep the Peace video project.

Ice-T, Michele Mupo and Michael Rodrick in Oaks, PA-October 2009.

Bear Down Sunday #2

The Bears are 1-0 and face the New Orleans Saints who are 0-1.  Don't let those records give you false confidence.  This game should be a battle.
Former Bears quarterback Bobby Douglass spent some time in New Orleans.  Douglass was the Bears starting quarterback  for the better part of his 6 1/2 seasons in Chicago.  He might be best known for rushing for a (then) record 968 yards.  After leaving the Bears, he played a few games in San Diego, before going to New Orleans for two seasons.  He finished his career with a season in Green Bay.
He started several games (splitting time with Bobby Scott) in place of the injured Archie Manning.  The Saints were pretty bad back then and Douglass went 3-5 as a starter.
Despite his critics, our current quarterback, Jay Cutler, is the best qb we have had in Chicago in my life.  However, I would like to continue seeing Matt Forte do his best impression of Bobby as a rusher!

Bobby Douglass and me in Rosemont, IL-Early 2000's.

Celeb Jersey Cards #70 Peyton Manning & Dan Marino

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs. Baseball season is ending, but football season is just starting.  What better way to bridge that confusion than with two Hall of Fame quarterbacks appearing on baseball cards?

I know that technically Peyton Manning isn't in the Hall of Fame, but he will be.  He threw a first pitch at a Braves game and you know it was a perfect strike.  My only problem is that Peyton had to share his card with former Braves infielder Pete Orr.  With no offense to Orr, if Peyton had to share a card, his cardmate should have been Greg Maddux, Tom Glavine or John Smoltz.

Pittsburgh native Dan Marino was drafted out of high school by the Kansas City Royals.  Had he signed with the Royals, the 1984 card could have been his rookie baseball card.  Instead, Marino went on to have a HOF career with the Miami Dolphins.  He threw out the first baseball (or was it a football?) for the Marlins and earned a Celebrity Jersey Card.

On the Beat with Kelli Maroney

I have been a fan of Kelli Maroney for as long as I can remember.  Somehow during all of the years I have been meeting celebrities, I had never met her until recently at Flashback Weekend.
I first saw Kelli on tv's Ryan's Hope.  Since then, I have enjoyed her in such films as Fast Times at Ridgemont High, Night of the Comet and Not of This Earth.  Kelli gave us interesting insight about Ryan's Hope and Fast Times and updated us on her latest project Lip Service.
Previous to meeting Kelli, I became a follower of her blog.  I was pleasantly surprised to see that she accepted my invitation and became a follower of Johngy's Beat.  How cool is that?  After meeting Kelli, I learned firsthand how sweet she really is.
Kelli (and every celebrity at these such events) is there to meet fans, promote themselves and to make money.  Very few will take time during the event to do an interview like this.  Kelli gave us a few minutes and I am very grateful.
The interview below gives a little glimpse into Kelli.  After watching it, please check out KelliMaroney.com, Kelli's blog, Kelli's Facebook page and ClassicKelliMaroney.com.

On the Beat with Stevie Richards

Michael Manna is probably better known as Stevie Richards or Dr. Stevie a couple of the names he has used during his career in wrestling.  Like a lot of the wrestlers in ECW, Richards was never given a great opportunity to shine in the big organizations (like WWE or TNA).
Manna is a talented guy.  He is engaging, entertaining and articulate. If you watched our earlier video interviews of Mike Bucci and Brian Heffron, I am sure you laughed at some of Richards' antics in the background.
Like the other two members of the bWo, Manna was at Wizard World in part to promote Resistance Pro Wrestling.  Meeting him was a blast, especially since it was a bWo booth.  These guys have great chemistry.  It is easy to see how they made that such a great gimmick.
After you have enjoyed the video below, please be sure to check out Manna's other project, t4show.com, subtitled tech today tech tomorrow, a site obviously about technology.  Manna has had a passion for technology since childhood and now he has a public outlet for it.

On the Beat with the Blue Meanie

I recently ran our interview with Mike Bucci, also known as Novi.  One of Bucci's mates in the Blue World Order was the Blue Meanie (or Brian Heffron).
Heffrom borrowed the Blue Meanie name from the Beatles Yellow Submarine and the bWo concept was a parody of the wildly popular nWo (New World Order), but the humor and creativity to make this work came from Heffron (along with Bucci and others in the bWo).  The bWo remains a fan favorite years after ECW closed.
Heffrom had a run in the WWE, including a stint as Bluedust, a manager and associate of Goldust.  This was very popular, too, but the WWE doesn't always utilize talent properly.  Blue Meanie didn't stay long in the WWE and returned to mostly independent wrestling organizations.
We caught up with the Blue Meanie at Wizard World and had a blast interviewing him.  This interview has everything, including a cameo by Mrs. Meanie!
After enjoying the video, check out Brian on Twitter.  Also, check out Resistance Pro Wrestling, a new wrestling organization which Brian was helping promote.

Autograph Tales:Tom Ramsey

With football season upon us, I thought it was the right time to highlight some autographs of my favorite position in football...the backup quarterback (oh you had to see that coming).  Someday, after the Backup Catcher Hall of Fame is well established, I'll start working on the Backup Quarterback Hall of Fame.  Until then, at least through this football season, I will feature autographs from some of my favorite backup qb's of my youth.
Tom Ramsey played at UCLA and starred in the 1983 Rose Bowl.  In 2007, he was inducted into the Rose Bowl Hall of Fame (which will pale in comparison to the BQBHOF).  He played two seasons in the USFL, followed by four seasons in the NFL (three with the New England Patriots). 
Ramsey never appeared on a regular football card (card sets were different then, as we know).  I sent an index card to Ramsey, asking him to sign it.  He did it one better, by signing the card and including 4x6 signed photo.
Everyone remembers Steve Grogan, Doug Flutie and Tony Eason (three of the qb's whom Ramsey backed up).  My job is to keep alive the legacy of players like Ramsey!

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebs.

I have met Heather Klinger many times over the years, either at celebrity conventions or signings held by her business, Klinger Promotions.  Heather can usually be seen in the company of one or more wrestlers.
I always enjoyed Heather's signings, because they were done right.  She gave plenty of advance notice, brought in interesting wrestlers, charged fair prices and treated the fans well.  Additionally, at the signing, you usually got to spend an extra moment or two with the wrestler, something very special in the world of mass-signings.  You couldn't ask for more in any signing.
Heather is on a break from holding signings.  There were some problems with her last attempt, problems which I believe were beyond her control.  Fortunately, I think Heather is working on putting together a signing later this year.  I hope so, because I think Heather enjoys this and I know the fans do.  The signing business needs people like Heather.
One of her most successful signings featured Joe Laurinaitis, better known as Animal from his time with the legendary tag team the Road Warriors.  He is also known as the father of James Laurinaitis, star linebacker for the St. Louis Rams.  Animal was recently inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame.
I missed this signing, but several of my friends went.  Everyone had a great time.  Laurinaitis was friendly and accommodating to all.  The only way this could have been better would be if James accompanied him (a dream combination).
Score another one for Heather!  Hopefully, we will see her back behind the table again in the near future.  When that happens, I'll be there covering it!

Heather Klinger and Joe Laurinaitis in the Chicago area, IL-November 2009.

Bear Down Sunday #1

It's that time of year again.  It's football season.  I love all sports, but the Chicago Bears unite all Chicago fans like no other team.
The Bears are facing the Atlanta Falcons today.  Last season, the Falcons were NFC South champs with a record of 13-3.  The Bears were NFC North champs with a record of 11-5.  Both teams lost to the Green Bay Packers in the playoffs (although the Bears went one round further and gave the Packers a closer game).
The Bears need to start this season with a statement.  They need a solid offense and a fearsome defense.  They need to start strong.
This leads me to Hacksaw Jim Duggan.  After a collegiate career at SMU, Duggan joined the Atlanta Falcons for the 1977 season (although I believe he was mostly injured).  Duggan quickly turned to pro wrestling and carved out a Hall of Fame career.
The Bears need to take a cue from Duggan.  They need to show their toughness and then hit the big move when the opportunity arises.  Duggan was never the biggest star, but he consistently won and was right near the top of the card.
I have met Duggan several times, including last month at Wizard World.  Duggan is always a treat, whether he is telling old wrestling (or football) stories or bellowing out his trademark "Hooooooooooooooooooo".
Hopefully after today's game, Bears fans will be giving the Hacksaw 'thumbs up" to celebrate a great victory.

Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Matt Parker and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

Celeb Jersey Cards #69 David Hasselhoff & Matthew McConaughey

This is a regular series which combines my love for trading cards with my interest in celebs.  This is a two themed Celeb Jersey Card celebration.  First and foremost is the Hollywood stuff theme of yesteryear and today (or at least recently).  Second is the less important lengthy last name theme (which is of little importance, except for difficulty in spacing on the cards).

When talking about male heartthrobs of the 80's (or so), you have to mention David Hasselhoff (whether you want to or not).  When the Hoff sang at Dodger Stadium, he had to go all out and strut his stuff on the dugout.  I am surprised he wore a Dodgers cap to cover his mane, but he earns extra points for that.  Like him or not, he deserves a Celeb Jersey Card.  Who am I to "hassel" the Hoff?

A more modern heart throb is Matthew McConaughey.  McConaughey is a native Texan, but World Series or not, the Rangers aren't going to have big celebrity softball events, so McMonaughey donned the Dodgers uni and thereby earned his Celeb Jersey Card.

On the Beat with Sara Richard

One of the things I enjoy most at Wizard World is meeting all of the creative people in the artist areas.  These are the people you wouldn't ordinarily meet, but they really are fascinating.
One of the coolest people I met this year was Sara Richard.  Sara is an illustrator, a sculptor and an author.  She has also worked on toy lines for Hasbro.  She is multi-talented.
Sara isn't all work either.  With two of her friends, she partakes in cosplaying.  They call themselves Human Sushi and they are very entertaining!
We discuss all of the above in our interview.  Two things I failed to discuss were Sara's love of dinosaurs and her work for the Manchester Animal Shelter.  I will be sure to cover those topics the next time I talk to Sara.
Until then, check out SaraRichard.com to learn more about this versatile, young talent.  It really was a lot of fun talking to Sara!

On the Beat with Jim Hendry

While in Houston last month, we got a quick interview with Jim Hendry.  Just a couple days later, it was announced that Hendry would be leaving the Cubs organization.  Could it be that we got the last interview with Hendry?
Okay, realistically, we probably did not get the last interview, but it is quite possible.  Hendry talked to several reporters after us, but all of it was unoffical or off the record.  While our question was not baseball related, it was an "on the record" question and since I know of no others after us, I will claim this as the last official interview Jim Hendry gave while a member of the Cubs organization.

Cards That Never Were

As most regular readers know, I have a fascination with virtual card creations for "cards that never were".  I have saluted such blogger/card creators as Cards That Never Were (at White Sox Cards), Chachi Cards (at The Phillies Room), random card creations and corrections (at Wrigley Wax), Final Tribute cards (at Garvey, Cey, Russell and Lopes) and random stuff (at Punk Rock Paint).
I have my own virtual card creation series called "Celebrity Jersey Cards", which combines my interest in celebrities and my passion for trading cards.  If a celebrity wears a pro jersey and I see it, a Celebrity Jersey Card will be created.  I also have created a handful of legitimate cards that never were, including my 1979 Bobby Douglass rookie baseball card.

I felt pretty good about my Douglass card.  Finding a picture of him from his brief stint in the White Sox organization was difficult.  The b/w photo I found worked well on the 1979 Topps Rookie Prospects card.
One day, however, I came across an even better version on a site appropriately called "Cards That Never Were". 

John Hogan is the creative force behind the "Cards That Never Were" site.  As I have mentioned, I love these type of cards and John's site is loaded with them.  Along with his regular CTNW creations, he has announcer cards, an ongoing Mickey Mantle project and much more.  I have been known to roam and marvel at his creations for long stretches.  He shows so much creativity and produces great stuff.  If you haven't already done so, you should really check out his site, Cards That Never Were.

On the Beat with the Nasty Boys

Brian Knobbs and Jerry Sags were childhood friends, who are collectively known in the wrestling world as the Nasty Boys, a highly successful tag team.  The Nasty Boys won tag team gold in the WWE, the WCW and in smaller organizations.  They are now semi-retired, but still do the occasional match.
They are a highly entertaining duo.  You just never know what they will do next, but they will always entertain.
They were very entertaining at Wizard World, where they captivated fans all weekend.  Knobbs made a brief appearance (interruption) in our interview with Lisa Marie Varon.  We didn't mind, as it provided just another in a long line of laughs.
We approached the Nasty Boys and asked them about their upcoming appearances.  They decided to cut an old school promo, which is featured in the video below.  They will be appearing in Allentown (PA) on October 8, as part of the Hulk Hogan and Friends Tour.  The other 'friends' include Hacksaw Jim Duggan, Brutus Beefcake, Koko B. Ware, Greg Valentine and Eric Bischoff.  To get you in the mood, watch the promo below.  To get more info, check out HulkandFriends.com.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly series about friends who have met celebs.

The college football season started Saturday.  My niece Sam is now going to the University of Iowa and I am really looking forward to a roadtrip to see the Hawkeyes.
Last year, Sam attended Southern Illinois University, but I missed the football roadtrip.  Fortunately, Sam's parents never forget me and made sure to get a picture with the Salukis mascot (who I believe is known as Grey Dawg).
Just looking at that photo makes me excited about the Iowa trip.  A real college football game at a Big 10 school, no less.  Oh sure, I have gone to other college games, such as the yearly trip to the Big House with my friends Jim and Cuzz.  This game is different though.  Sam gives me a legitimate rooting connection to the team.
My nephew Matt provided a basketball rooting connection at DePaul, but I already had that since I am an alum.  My niece Laura gave me great memories on two trips to New York for her studies.  Sam though is giving me a big time college football experience.
With some luck, I am hoping to meet Herky the Hawkeye at a game.  If I do, you'll see it here!

Jean and Scott Parker and the SIU Salukis mascot in Carbondale, IL-Late 2010.

Celeb Jersey Cards #68 Scott Stapp (A Two Sport Star)

This is a regular series which combines my passion for trading cards with my interest in celebs.  A few days ago, I wrote about my friend Jim Gekas celebrating the end of the baseball season and the beginning of football season.  Today, singer Scott Stapp follows Jim's lead with some two sport action.

Stapp is one of the many celebrities to suit up for a Dodgers charity softball game.  Stapp appears to be standing on second base, possibly indicating he doubled (or maybe he just advanced after singling).  Stapp looks natural out there, although he lacks the forearms of Steve Garvey, the most famous #6.

When I was growing up, Danny White was one of my favorites.  The punter-quarterback followed Roger Staubach, but never quite lead the Cowboys to the promised land.  Stapp borrowed White's #11 when he performed the National Anthem.  Interesting that he wore a quarterback number.  With "arms wide open", I would have thought he would have made a better receiver.

Happy Birthday Big Money

Today is Matt Parker's birthday.  Matt (aka Big Money) is my nephew, but he is also my friend.  He's a great young adult (despite my influence).
We have enjoyed so many great laughs and Coke bets (although I lose more than I win).  We laugh at and bet on everything from wrestling to bad game shows to relatives' arrival times at family functions.  It's all good fun (although I'd like to win a few more).
I love you Big Money.  Have a fantastic day!

Matt and me in Reliant Stadium in Houston, TX-December 2010.

On the Beat with Patricia Kara

Patricia Kara is an actress, a model and a tv personality.  I had the pleasure of meeting Patricia at Wizard World and I can tell you she is also a warm, engaging and fun person.  When I walked up to Patricia, she greeted me with such friendliness and energy that I knew this would be a fun interview. 
Patricia might be best known for being the model for the #9 briefcase on Deal or No Deal  (although she also substituted on some other numbers). She has made many appearances on tv shows and ads, in magazines and even in some video games.  She also appeared on a celebrity version of the game show Catch 21.  She won the game, earning $2500 for Trinity Children's Foundation.
Patricia is from Chicago and still has family in the area.  We talked a bit about that, too.  She named Lou Malnati's and Al's Italian Beef as her favorite local spots.  Those are excellent choices (and if either place is reading this, I think I see some sort of promotion possibility!).
We talked about Deal of No Deal, Chicago, future projects (including a fitness video) and more in the interview.  To learn more about Patricia, check out PatriciaKara.com.  I really appreciate Patricia for giving us some time, but mostly for being so incredibly pleasant.  She might hold briefcase #9, but she is totally #1.

On the Beat with Mike Bucci-Part 2

Yesterday, I ran the first part of our interview with Mike Bucci at Wizard World.  Bucci started talking about the state of professional wrestling and he continues along that line today, along with discussing his career.
About midway through the video, there is some funny interaction between Bucci and his booth-mates, Stevie Richards and the Blue Meanie, two more members of the bWo.  This stuff cracks me up.  These guys are hilarious.
Bucci is semi-retired and in the Mortgage Industry.  I was really impressed with Bucci.  He had some interesting observations and insight. He seems to be in a good place overall.  He wrestles occasionally and still loves talking to fans and promoters about wrestling.  It was great to see him at this stage of his life and career doing so well.
After you watch the video, you can check out Mike Bucci's Facebook page to learn a bit more about him and to get in the loop on his future projects and appearances.