Keith David Did Not Come to Days of the Dead to Chew Bubblegum

By the time They Live came out, Keith David had already been acting for several years.  He even appeared on tv's Mr. Rogers' Neighborhood.  I am sure I had seen him in some of those productions, but I don't really remember him before seeing him opposite Roddy Piper in They Live.
They Live has become a cult classic.  It's just one of those movies.  Piper could spend days at a convention signing those famous sunglasses and adding the equally famous "bubblegum" line.
At the recent Days of the Dead convention, his They Live co-star Keith David joined the fun.  I am not sure if it was his first convention, but I know it was his first around here (score another one for another Adolfo Dorta).  Fans were wildly excited about the possibility of getting dual-signed pictures of the co-stars.
Opportunities like that are rare.  This is just another reason why Days of the Dead is a great convention.  Adolfo gets it.  He puts on a show that the fans will like.
Keith was very nice when we met him.  Matt had him sign a They Live poster, which he later had Piper sign.  I saw a lot of those posters being signed by both men.  It seemed a successful day for Keith and for his fans (and there were a lot of them).
Keith has been very busy acting and ding voice-over work.  A little trivia...he is the first actor to provide his voice for two films nominated for Academy Awards for Best Animated Feature
This is just another example of the great fun at Days of the Dead.  Check out DaysoftheDead.net for more info on this awesome convention.

Keith David, Matt Parker and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2012.

The Coke Bear Had Me

Sometimes you have a Coke.  Sometimes a Coke has you.

okay, how about this one...
Wow that Coke had a lot of bite to it!

How about...after all of the Coke I have consumed, this just seems natural.

You know I can go on all day with bad puns, but I suppose I have already written three too many.
Seriously, how cool is the Coca-Cola store?  I think I could just live in there.  After enough time, I think the Coke bear would even start to like me.

The Coke bear and me in Las Vegas, NV-February 2011.

Meeting Tom Batiuk was Funky

I don't remember when I first read Funky Winkerbean, a comic strip in my local paper.  It has been in print since 1972 and I probably started shortly after that.
Tom Batiuk is the creative force behind Funky and the rest of the gang, as well as John Darling and Ed Crankshaft, two other comic strips.  I have read the strips regularly since then (although John Darling ended in 1990).  I own several of the compilation books, too.
I had the pleasure of talking to Batiuk last year at Wizard World in Batiuk's native Ohio.  This was quite a thrill for me.  Here I was sitting with the man who brought so much enjoyment to me over the years.  I almost felt like I was talking to Funky's father (which, in a way, I was).
Meeting someone after following them for so long can be tricky.  In this case, Batiuk far exceeded my hopes.  He was so pleasant and easy going.  He was free with his time and thoughtful with his answers.
Batiuk's characters have struck a chord with generations.  His characters are multi-dimensional.  Short-timers and long-standing characters all leave some sort of mark, including Lisa, perhaps the most far-reaching character.  Lisa's Legacy Fund has helped raise funds and awareness for cancer.
I hope to meet Batiuk again at some conventions this year.  It will be great to see him again and to get any update.  When I do, I will be posting all here.
Until then, please check out FunkyWinkerbean.com to learn more about Batiuk, and the rest of the cast of characters.

Tom Batiuk and me in Columbus, OH-October 2012.

Friendly Encounters: Scott Blair Meets Hulk Hogan

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

I have met Scott Blair several times at various conventions.  The artist is very talented.  Some would say he is lucky, too...lucky to be able to draw some very beautiful women, such as Christy Hemme, Velvet Sky and others.  Those drawings can be seen in Hard Candy, his book of digital pin ups.  He also does other illustrations, too.
Hmmm he never has drawn Johngy.  Actually, that is probably a good thing.  Scott has a great thing going.  No sense in rocking that boat!
Scott's talent lead him to be involved in Hulk Hogan's first photo shoot for TNA wrestling.  Scott commented on the experience...
I got to meet the Hulkster and assist with his photo shoot thanks to Lee South and TNA Wrestling! One of the best days of my life! Watch TNA Impact on Spike TV - Hulkamania is back!
This had to be a great experience.  Just meeting a legend like Hogan is pretty cool.  I can only imagine actually being involved in the shoot.
I know.  Some people will ask why I used this picture, when I started by talking about all of the beautiful women Scott has drawn.  Like I said, Hogan is a legend.  Besides, you can check out the beautiful women and his incredible artwork at ScottBlairArt.com and the Scott Blair Art Facebook page.

Scott Blair and Hulk Hogan in Tampa, FL-Early 2010.

(Photo courtesy of ScottBlairArt.com)

Garry Meier:A Chicago Radio Legend

My old grade school buddy Tom Skalski turned me onto Steve Dahl and Garry Meier way back when.  Therefore, it was only fitting that I finally met Garry when I was with Tom at a recent Hawks game.  Actually, Tom was the reason I met Garry, only Tom didn't now it and I later found out I was mistaken anyway.  Allow me to explain.
As we entered the United Center, we spotted Meier at a broadcasting table.  Tom walked up to him and started talking as if they were old buddies.  I just figured they were, because I knew Tom did some work in broadcasting while in college and he knew some radio personalities.  I just assumed he knew Meier, too.
Because of that, I followed Tom and talked to Meier, too.  Actually, Meier probably thought I was goofy, when I explained I was a longtime friend of Tom.  Still, Meier was very cool and took the picture with me, even though he was pressed for time while doing the broadcast.
Later, as I rejoined Tom, I mentioned that I did not know he knew Meier.  He then stated that he didn't know him, but he spoke to him about some long-running radio jokes of Meier.  Well, that explains why Tom did not introduce me to him!
In any case, it was great to meet this Chicago radio legend.  Who would have thought that I would still be listening to Meier some 30 years after first hearing of him?!  If Meier ever reads this, I want to thank him for so many years of great radio!

Garry Meier and me in Chicago, IL-March 2012.

On the Beat at POWW Entertainment-1/20/13

We hit our first POWW (Purely Obsessed Wrestling World) show of the year and we brought some friends with us.  Louie brought Peter and Christopher (his sons) and Andrew (his nephew).  Andrew brought his son Steven.  This Greek contingent would play a big role in the night.
Aside from the excellent matches, we all had a lot of fun with the wrestlers.  Sexy K.C. was the first to make an impression on the kids, when he shoved me into a wall.  Stonewall didn't physically attack anyone, but he yelled at the kids.  K.C. came out again and had to shove me again.  I don't think he likes me very much.  On the good side, "the Lost Soul" Chris Cairo high-fived all of the kids.
The real highlight for the kids was when GQ came out and immediately saw their signs and Greek flags.  He gave them all high-fives and even sat next to them, as his opponent Sexy K.C. stalled outside of the ring.  GQ was pinned by K.C. (after some shenanigans), but still celebrated with the boys after his match.
After the show, the boys took pictures with several of the wrestlers, even the "bad" guys.  With no disrespect to the others, I think it is safe to say that GQ was their favorite.
The fun was not over for the JohngysBeat.com crew, resident heel Scott Beatty scored an interview with POWW Heavyweight champ Cairo.  "The Lost Soul" talked about what it mean to be champ, the good and bad of being champ and more.  For more info on him, check out Chris Cairo on Facebook.

I was pleased to get an interview with POWW owner Jimmy Blaze, despite being a bit exhausted from the night's action.  The Psychotic One talked about the new year in POWW, the challenges POWW he faces and more.  Check out the Jim Blaze Facebook page or go to POWWEntertainment.com to learn all about Blaze and POWW.

The New R Pro Women's Champ is Here!

I first met Amazing Kong at Resistance Pro's "Sad Wings of Destiny" in December of 2012.  Kong (or Kia Stevens) was a special guest for the meet-and-greet.\.
Kong's history reveals her to be a devastating force in the world of wrestling.  Her size, skills and attitude struck fear in the hearts of all of her competitors.  Here though, she was just meeting fans, signing autographs and being very friendly.  She even smiled a lot!
That all changed though later in the night when she attacked Melanie Cruise.  Kong was all business.  This obviously would set up a future match between these two.  That match was supposed to happen at "Stay Hungry" in January.  Unfortunately, Cruise was suffering the effects of a concussion and vacated the title.  Kong won that title in a four-way match between her, Nikki St. John, D'Arcy Dixon and Thunderkitty.
Cruise had been the only holder of the Women's title in the history of R Pro.  She had been a great champ.  The fans had been so behind her that she became a "good guy" wrestler.  The concussion might have caused Cruise to step aside temporarily, but she will be back and we are all anxiously waiting for a Cruise-Kong match.
Until then, I must give Kong her due respect.  She started in R Pro where she left off with other companies.  She is a very talented wrestler.  I really look forward to seeing some interesting match-ups between her and other women wrestlers in R Pro.  Congratulations to Kong!

The Amazing Kong (Kia Stevens) and me in Chicago, IL-December 2012.

Meet Kitty Zombie

I have seen Kitty Zombie at horror conventions for years, but I finally met him a couple months ago.  Kitty Zombie is quite a character.
Sometimes called Kitty Zom, it is said that he has "the body of a killer and the mind of a puppy."  If that is the case, why isn't he called Puppy Zombie?  While I am at it, he doesn't really have the body of a killer either.  (Yes, I stay up at nights thinking about these things.)
In any case, Kitty Zombie is a popular attraction at horror conventions, at least in the midwest.  I don't think he ever has his own booth, but he gets stopped by a lot of fans for pictures.
If you ever have met KZ, you will understand why I have not been able to interview him.  You can also check out KittyZombie.com to get a better understanding, although I am still not sure you will understand him.  At this point, do you even understand me?
While an interview seems unlikely, I will set a goal for 2013 concerning Kitty Zombie.  I will get something on video from him, although I am not sure any of us will understand it.

Kitty Zombie and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2012.

On the Beat at Resistance Pro Wrestling's "Stay Hungry"

Last Friday, I happily returned to my south side roots for Resistance Pro Wrestling's "Stay Hungry" at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park (IL).  It was also a homecoming of sorts for R Pro owners and south side natives Jacques and Gabe Baron.

It was an awesome mix of old and new.  There was a joyful sendoff for Jay Bradley (who is headed to TNA Impact Wrestling) and a sorrowful temporary good-bye to Melanie Cruise (who is suffering from a concussion).  Eric St. Vaughn made his much-anticipated in-ring debut as part of a tag team and lost.  The Ego Robert Anthony defended his Heavyweight title against visiting superstar Matt Hardy and won.  Those are just some of the highlights.  My full report on the evening of fun can be found at "Resistance Pro (and Johngy) Came Back to the South Side" on the Oak Lawn Patch site.

After the fantastic night, we landed interviews with three stars of R Pro.  First up was JohngysBeat.com's resident heel Scott Beatty talking to Chris Hall.  Hall talked about how he got into wrestling, his wrestling dream match and more.  For more info on Hall, check out Chris "The Madness" Hall on Facebook.

JohngysBeat.com Contributor Extraordinaire and Eric St. Vaughn super-fan Matt Parker landed ESV's first interview after his in-ring debut (tag-teaming with GQ).  ESV discussed his first match, his future and more.  To learn more about him, check out Eric St. Vaughn on Facebook.

I had the honor and pleasure of getting Jay Bradley's last interview before he heads out to TNA Impact.  Bradley talked about his year in R Pro, going to TNA and more.  Congratulations again to Jay.  He deserves it all.  For info and updates on him, go to the Jay Bradley Facebook page.

As always, we totally enjoyed ourselves at the R Pro event.  I would like to once again thank Jacques and Gabe Baron for their hospitality and all of the wrestlers and R Pro family for being great to JohngysBeat.com.

Elvis, Austin Powers and Johngy

Only in Las Vegas can you meet Elvis and Austin Powers on the same street corner.  If you add Johngy in the equation, you have one odd, but cool trio.
About a year ago, I was enjoying a week in Vegas.  A week in Vegas.  Oh how awesome that was.  Yikes, now I am getting sad...
Anyway, all along the strip, people dress in costume, gladly posing for pictures with the pedestrians.  They usually pose for free, although gratuities are always welcome.  Some are extremely good, while some are not so good.  Still, I give the people credit for standing out there all day in costume.
When I encountered "Elvis Presley" and "Austin Powers", I got a little good and a little not too good.  I think Austin did a great job.  Oh, of course, he could have done better, but this isn't a major production, so I kind of grade on the curve.
Elvis, on the other hand, didn't quite get a pass.  The entirety wasn't bad, but I have seen lots better.  Heck, I even see better at the local pub (in Jefferson Park, IL) on Elvis night.  What's with the tshirt under the jumpsuit.  Surely the big E never wore an undershirt.  Maybe a scarf or two (which he would whip into the audience), but never a white tshirt.  He left those for Fonzie.
Maybe I shouldn't be so hard on him.  Afterall, I think I did smell a little peanut butter and banana on him.

Elvis, me and Austin Powers in Las Vegas, NV-March 2011.

Friendly Encounters: Louis Tufano Meets Christy Hemme

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities of all sorts.

I met Louis Tufano at a POWW (Purely Obsessed Wrestling World) event.  Louis was their new ring announcer.  He came up and introduced himself to me.  I liked him right from the start.
Of course, I asked Louis for an interview (which can be found here).  I learned a lot about Louis before and during the interview.  He is one interesting guy.
He obviously has an interest in wrestling.  I learned he was also a ref earlier in his career.  Most interesting, he told me that he has a huge action figure collection, which can be see on his Facebook page.  He has some great figures there.  It is cool to see that many.
Louis (or the Big Loubowski or even Shrek) surprised me by asking for a JohngysBeat.com shirt.  He then surprised me even more when I saw his daughter Reese wearing one of the shirts I gave him.  A father-daughter JohngysBeat.com shirt combo...how cool is that?
I think Louis is one of those soft-spoken, laid back guys who probably has about a thousand great stories.  I hope to hear some in 2013, as well as more about his action figure collection.
He has a bunch of pictures with wrestlers and other celebrities on his Facebook page.  I picked one with JohngysBeat.com favorite Christy Hemme.  (I went all of 2012 without seeing Christy...I miss her, but I digress).
Hopefully, I will interview Louis again in 2013.  I definitely plan to feature him here again.  He has a lot of awesome pictures.
I really appreciate Louis for reaching out initially.  I appreciate and respect him.  You should come out to POWW and see Louis and some great wrestling, too.

To learn more about Louis, see all of his pictures and get his updates, go to the Official Louis Tufano Facebook Page.

Christy Hemme and Louis Tufano in Chicago area, IL-August 2010.

Mark Metcalf...A Triple Threat

Mark Metcalf has had a long career, but is probably best known for roles in three major franchises.  He played Neidermayer in Animal House, the Maestro on Seinfeld and the Master on Buffy, among many other roles.  Aside from the great impact on his career, those roles make him a triple threat for celebrity autograph conventions.
As I have written before, collectors of any given franchise like to get everyone involved.  Just being in one can make the actor a major favorite at such conventions.  Being in three very successful franchises is like a golden ticket at such conventions.
Adding to all of that, Metcalf is extremely personable.  He will sit and talk to everyone for as much as time permits.  He also has a nice assortment of pictures you can get signed.
I am not necessarily a Seinfeld collector, although I am a big fan of the show.  Still, I have met the Maestro, David Puddy, the Soup Nazi and Mike Moffit.  Happily, they were all pleasurable experiences.

Mark Metcalf and me in Columbus, OH-October 2011.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #127 Booker T & Christy Hemme

This is a regular feature which attempts to combine my lifelong passion for trading cards with my interest in celebrities.  The NFL playoffs are not going the way I want.  Today Ione Celebrity Card makes me sad and the other one is there to help me get over the pain.

Booker T Huffman is a mostly retired pro wrestler.  Booker overcame a rough childhood to become a Hall of Fame-bound wrestler.  He is a multi-time Heavyweight champ and he won even more tag titles.  The native of Houston showed his Houston love in his Matt Schaub #5 jersey, which also goes nicely with one of his tag lines (5 time, 5 time, 5 time, 5 time, 5 time World champ).  This Celebrity Jersey Card picture was found by Matt Parker and thus is dedicated to Matt and his father, two of the biggest Texans fans.

What better way is there to beat my playoff blues than by bringing a little bliss, as in former Chicago Bliss quarterback and former pro wrestler Christy Hemme.  The Bliss are part of the Legends Football League, which was formerly the Lingerie Football League.  I am not sure what number Hemme wore, but it should have been 10.  Who would have picked Hemme to be the first football player to do the Heisman pose on a Celebrity Jersey Card?  Aside from her outer beauty, I really like Hemme, as readers of my blog should know.  She has always been great to JohngysBeat.com and once again, she perked up our spirits!

Not The Original Gorgeous George

When Randy Savage was wrestling in the WCW, he purchased the 'Gorgeous George' gimmick. It is rumored that the name was intended for his brother, Lanny Poffo. Poffo never quite made it to the WCW, but Savage got good use out of the name anyway.
Savage gave the name to his then-girlfriend, Stephanie Bellars. Bellars, as George, became Savage's valet. She departed the WCW after her split with Savage.
She made a few sporadic wrestling appearances since then, under different names, since Savage still owned the Gorgeous George gimmick. After her marriage to Misfits rocker Doyle Wolfgang von Frankenstein, Bellars became known as Georgie Frankenstein.
Bellars started doing personal appearances almost immediately after she left the WCW. After dropping out of the circuit for several years, she started appearing again.
Bellars didn't do a whole lot in wrestling, but she was aligned with Savage and Ric Flair at different times. That alone gives her enough of a resume to merit interest on the autograph circuit. Very much like 'the Soup Nazi', Gorgeous George made the most of her notable role.
I am hoping she starts doing appearances again.  Stephanie was very sweet and really good to the fans when I met her in Chicago years ago.  We would love to see her back at conventions!
Let this serve as an open plea.  Come back, Stephanie!

Stephanie Bellars and me in Chicago, IL-early 00's.

Days of the Dead is Going to Atlanta...Without Me

Days of the Dead in Atlanta is just two weeks away and I am really bummed that I will not be there.  I have been at both Days conventions in Indianapolis and the one in Chicago.  It is a great horror convention, full of interesting and fan-friendly celebrities.
Promoter Adolfo Dorta is dedicated to making Days the best con around and he is accomplishing that goal.  You can always find him at the conventions (although he is usually a blur) meeting fans and attending to any situation which arises.
At the Chicago event in 2012, he brought in Roddy Piper and Mick Foley.  Piper fits the genre because of They Live.  You could also connect Foley with horror because of his books.  Adolfo addressed his reasons slightly differently, by saying that both men are popular and horror fans are often wrestling fans.  Basically, horror connection or not, he was doing what was best for Days of the Dead and I cannot agree more.  In fact, he also talked about incorporating more wrestling in 2013.
That brings me back to the upcoming Days.  Longtime JohngysBeat.com favorite Diamond Dallas Page will be there.  Wrestling legend Jake "the Snake" Roberts will be there.  Mickie James (my favorite current female wrestler) will be there.  That is an excellent three pack of wrestlers.
I won't be there.  I have to much work right now to get away, even for the weekend, although I would love to go to Atlanta.  I will be going to the Days in Indianapolis in July, but that is a way off.
For the next two weeks, I will be wishing I was Atlanta-bound.  Then on February 1-3, I will really be agitated.
Just because I cannot go, doesn't mean I don't encourage everyone else to go.  Maybe I can live vicariously through you, although that will be small consolation when I see you hanging with DDP, Jake and Mickie.
Yes, Adolfo makes Days great, maybe a little too great.  I just hate missing one!
If you would like more info on this awesome con, go to DaysoftheDead.net.

Me, Roddy Piper and Matt Parker in Schaumburg, IL-November 2012.

Do You "LIKE" Arch News Agency?

When I am not going to conventions, wrestling shows or other pop culture events, I own and run Arch News Agency, a printed materials distribution company.  We handle the distribution for Global Traveler magazine, as well as help out distributing promo cards for Resistance Pro Wrestling, Days of the Dead conventions and other companies.  Basically, if it is printed and you need it distributed in bulk to any area, we can do it.
My partner in Arch is my great friend Louie.  The roots of Arch go way back.  Louie and I have worked together for 25 years.  Arch became our full-time endeavor in 2004.
Recently, I boldly pushed us into the 2000's by starting an Arch News Agency Facebook page.  As of this writing, we have 120 "Likes" on our page.  The purpose of this piece is to get that number higher.
I know there are several great bloggers and readers out there who are on Facebook.  My request is simple.

Go to Arch News Agency on Facebook and "LIKE" us.

Johngy, The Ego and Big Money at Resistance Pro Wrestling

On Friday January 18 (yes, just a few days away!!), "The Ego" Robert Anthony will defend his Resistance Pro Heavyweight title against Matt Hardy at "Stay Hungry" at 115 Bourbon Street in Merrionette Park, IL.  This promises to be another great night of R Pro action.
Ego won the belt in a three way match a couple months back.  He has put on some great matches in his tenure with R Pro and the fans have really responded to him.  When he proclaims the arena as "the house that Ego built," the fans wildly cheer.  He has the look, the skills and the charisma to go a long way in wrestling.
Ego is great in and out of the ring.  JohngysBeat.com interviewed him after a match in March and at Wizard World and he was very entertaining both times, along with every other time we have talked to him off the record.
It will be interesting to see who he faces and where Ego goes in 2013.  While the rest of the year is uncertain, I know where he will be this Friday...the same place I will be...the same place you should be.
Ego is the real deal and so is R Pro.  R Pro continues to provide great wrestling entertainment and with Ego at the top, R Pro will keep getting more entertainment.  Don't just take my word though.  Come out and see for yourself.
For all of the info on "Stay Hungry" and R Pro, go to ResistancePro.com.

Me, Robert Anthony and Matt Parker in Chicago, IL-December 2012.

Friendly Encounters: Frank Wroblewski Meets Bill Wennington

This is a regular series about my friends who have met celebrities.

My dad got me my first autograph (Billy Williams).  My dad was with me when I got my first in-person autograph (Mike Wegener).  Over the years, he has notified me of various autograph opportunities.
Lately though, Big Frank is getting in on the action.  He started by getting autographs on the ads for the player appearance.  Then he graduated to getting cards signed (he would ask me for the cards well ahead of time).
On Christmas, he proudly handed me the photo below.  He went to an appearance by Bill Wennington, former Bulls champion and got his picture taken with Bill and his ring (my dad pointed that out).
Maybe my dad thinks that his grandson (my nephew) Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker was having too much fun and wanted in on the action.  More likely, he is trying to help me and trying to fill time.  Whatever it is, I applaud my dad for getting out and doing something.
Back in his day, Big Frank was a pretty good basketball player.  He might even be able to take me one-on-one now.  Hmmm Matt and me verses Bill and Big Frank?  Why do I think Matt and I would be on the losing side?
I look forward to my dad's next Friendly Encounter.  With my dad, you just never know who he might meet.

Bill Wennington and my dad in Griffith, IN-December 2012.

Happy Birthday Scott

The picture below represents something very near and dear.  Over the years, it has given me great happiness.  It has always been there for me.
I am talking about a great sandwich from Kenny & Ziggy's in Houston.  I have been there many times and have always walked away satiated.  We weighed the sandwich once and I believe it came in over one pound.  That is one pound of delicious freshness.  It is ridiculously tasty and filling.
Also in the picture is my brother-in-law Scott.  Much like the sandwich, Scott weighs in at over one pound.  Also like the sandwich, over the years, Scott has always been there for me.  For a few years, I could only see both in Houston, but Scott (and the family) have moved back.  I couldn't ask for more from a sandwich or a brother-in-law.
Why am I comparing Scott to a sandwich?  Honestly, if I just wrote nice things about Scott, he would either think I am crazy or turning soft (as soft as that tasty bread of a Kenny & Ziggy's sandwich).
In all seriousness, Scott is a great guy and has been like a brother.  He has helped me too many times to count.
Today is his birthday and I hope he has a great one (as great as a sandwich from Kenny & Ziggy's).
Happy birthday Scott (and don't think I have gone soft...I will still bet against anything you want).

Scott Parker at Kenny & Ziggy's in Houston, TX-Summer 2012.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #126 Kellen Davis & Matt Forte

This is a regular series, in which I attempt to combine my lifelong passion for sports cards with my interest in celebrities.  Since hockey will be back soon, I am featuring two Bears in Hawks jerseys to celebrate the return of hockey.  Hey, they weren't doing anything anyway, since they didn't even make the playoffs!

Kellen Davis is a native of Michigan, but his years with the Bears lead him to the Hawks jersey.  I wonder if there is a picture of him wearing a Red Wings sweater?  Anyway, despite the critics, Davis has had a pretty good career for a 7th round draft pick.  He will never be a Hall of Famer, but if the Bears offense ever gets help, Davis could be a solid second tight end.  The #87 on his Celebrity Jersey Card matches his Bears number.  I don't believe there has ever been an #87 on the Hawks.

Matt Forte has been a steady force on the Bears offense.  Despite hitting his usual stats, 2012 seemed to be a bit of a down year for Forte.  With a new Bears coach and a push for a better offense, I am expecting a big season for Forte.  The #22 he is wearing on his Celebrity Jersey Card is obviously his Bears number and not an homage to Grant Mulvey (a very good player of my youth).

Batman Out...Johngy In!

As I have written many times, I enjoy taking pictures with convention attendees who are dressed in character.  Last year on wrap-up day at Wizard World, I ran into Batman and Batgirl (where was Robin?).
I wasn't really impressed with Batman.  Despite having a molded front torso, the Caped Crusader still seemed to have a nice paunch pushing forward.  As for Batgirl, what is not to like about a young, attractive woman dressed in purple leather?
I think Batgirl was ready to dump Batman.  She was digging my Aquaman apparel.  Aquaman beats Batman anytime.

Batman, me and Batgirl in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

Johngy Meets Dr. Johnny Fever

Howard Hesseman has had a long and successful career, but he is best known for his role as Dr. Johnny Fever in tv's WKRP in Cincinnati.  I also liked him in many other roles, such as on Head of the Class, One Day at a Time and even Soap.
I was excited about meeting Hesseman at the Motor City Comic Con, but I have to say I walked away a bit disappointed.  First, I state very clearly that Hesseman was polite and did nothing negative at all.
My disappointment was that Hesseman was not very interactive.  I have seen this before (Dean Stockwell).  Some convention celebrity guests just are not very engaging.  It's not that they are bad guests (Adam West), it's just that they seemed reserved.
There could be several reasons for their behavior.  Maybe I am not engaging enough myself to pull them into a good conversation.  Maybe they are new to the convention scene and they just haven't warmed up to it all yet.  Maybe they were just having a bad day for whatever reason.
I didn't walk away angrily after meeting Hesseman.  I just walked away sort of empty.  When you meet a childhood favorite, you always want one little moment of bonding.  Usually that happens at some point in the process.  Sometimes, the magic just doesn't happen.  Oh well.  Maybe the next time I meet Hesseman will be better.

Howard Hesseman and me in Novi, MI-May 2012.

A Johngy Action Figure?

Everyone has seen the JohngysBeat.com shirts which I shamelessly promote.  While I had no plans on expanding the Johngy line, apparently someone had other plans.

When I was at Lerner Newspapers, Joey Rodriguez joined the company as a graphic artist.  Bright and talented, Joey eventually became the Manager of that department.  Joey brought a unique style and energy to the department.

Joey was responsible for designing some of the beautiful ads for my Newspaper in Education program.  He was part of the reason the ad series was so successful and for that, I will always be grateful.

Recently, Joey sent me a new creation of his.

This is ridiculously cool.  Granted it is not a real action figure, but how many people even have a simulated version of themselves as a figure?  Really, this is totally awesome!

Joey wasn't finished though.  He had to kick it up a notch.  He made an Aquaman-themed version.  This is just too much.  This is too darn funny!

I love the attention to detail.  Green glasses for the Aquaman version!  I could not have dreamed up anything nearly as cool as these prototypes.

I want to publicly thank Joey for doing this.  It was unsolicited, but very appreciated.  Joey was a good friend at Lerner.  Despite being insane in his own good way, Joey was often one of the few sources of sanity within a crazy mess.

For all of that and for these two great Johngy toys, thank you very much, Joey!

Friendly Encounters: Tommy Else Meets the bWo

This is a regular series about friends who have met celebrities.

At Wizard World 2011, I met the Blue World Order (aka Stevie Richards, Brian Heffron and Mike Bucci). These guys are legendary for their wrestling success, especially in ECW.  I was ecstatic that I got to interview each of them separately, although I think they all appeared in each interview at some point.  Not only are these guys a lot of fun, they all had very interesting thoughts on wrestling and other topics.
Tommy Else also met the bWo and from the look of the picture, he was as happy as I was to meet them.  Tommy is a big wrestling fan and has met quite a few wrestlers.  I think Tommy would have made a good addition to the bWo, maybe as an enforcer (ala Arn Anderson?).
At the time of the event, I did not know Tommy yet.  I met him at a Resistance Pro Wrestling event.  In fact, I saw him at many R Pro events.  I also took one of his fitness classes.  Tommy runs T3 Fitness and if it was closer, I would go to more classes.  Tommy is also the brother of Mike Else (aka Professor Kliq), who I also consider a friend.
Over the year or so, Tommy and I have become friends.  He is really a great guy.  He has helped Matt (my nephew) and me many times.
I went to R Pro for some fun wrestling action and I came away with several friends, especially Tommy.  This is just another example of the impact of R Pro.  It really is like one big family and it is definitely a great time.  I am sure I will see Tommy at the next R Pro event, Stay Hungry, on January 18 in Merrionette Park (IL).
To learn more about Tommy, you can check out the T3 Personal Training site or T3 Fitness on Facebook.  You can also go to ResistancePro.com for more info on this great organization.

Stevie Richards, Tommy Else, Brian Heffrom and Mike Bucci in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

Happy Birthday Dad

Today is my dad's birthday.  The last couple years have been rough for him.  He was essentially a 24 hour nurse for my mom during her last several months.  He endured her passing.  He has tried to be strong and go on with his life.
He seeks answers.  He looks for comfort.  He tries to find things to fill his time.  At times, he is swallowed in guilt, sadness and angst.  At times, he surrounds himself with family and friends and allows himself to enjoy the moment.
He is a complex man.  Then again, he probably thinks I am complex and I am as simple as could be, but I digress.
I know my dad will not read this.  I am not even sure why I am writing this.  Maybe I am looking for answers, too.
Over the last couple years, I have seen most of my friends lose at least one parent.  Most of us still have one left.  I think we all have a new dimension in our love and appreciation of our parents.  Not only do I see mortality, I see my dad working on making his life fulfilling.
My dad is not perfect, but he is my dad.  I will call him later today (not during Jeopardy!) and wish him a happy birthday.  I also want to publicly wish him a great day and I hope everyone joins me in sending good thoughts and prayers his way.
Happy birthday dad.  I love you.

My dad and me in the dugout at Minute Maid Park in Houston, TX-February 2012.

On the Beat at Pro Wrestling Blitz

Last week, I returned to Joliet and Pro Wrestling Blitz for their "King of Joliet" event.  I really enjoy Blitz's product, but scheduling conflicts prevented me from getting there sooner.
This night seemed electric right from the start.  The crowd was already buzzing, when Mr. Ricolo (Blitz's ring announcer) came out and got them even more wound up.
The card itself was excellent.  There as the 8 man tournament to crown the new King.  Mr. 450 won the tourney by winning his three matches with a different finisher each time.  For the final, he defeated reigning King Zach Thompson via submission.  How unique, cool and old school is that?
One of my favorites, Grin, teamed with Machine in a three tag team bout.  Grin and Machine have a great twisted gimmick and they play it well.  I am not certain they will be able to remain heels for long with the crowd response they got.
Blitz owner Tony Scarpone announced Chazz Moretti as the new Blitz Commissioner.  Moretti defeated Billy Whack through a fan vote (53% to 47%).  This is the first time I have seen Moretti in the good guy role.  He was working his usual magic and the fans are eating up the new Moretti.
In the main event, my guy Ruff Crossing defeated Ryan Slade after chasing him and the title for several months.  As a confirmed Ruffian, I could not have been happier to see Ruff with the gold.
After the win, Ruff celebrated with friends, including wrestlers from elsewhere.  He also made a point to come over to Scott and me.  How good is Ruff?  Scott actually dropped his heel persona for a minute to cheer for the good cowboy!  We even got a quick interview with the new champ.

This was a fantastic night of wrestling.  The matches were exciting and well-paced.  The card flowed well.  I am a big fan of old school wrestling and this was a great example of old school meets new school.  The production quality at Blitz is always top notch.  DJ Bob did an outstanding job with the music and video packages.
I applaud Scarpone and his entire Blitz roster for doing a great job.  Congratulations to Ruff for his title win.  Congrats to the new King, Mr. 450.  This was simply a very entertaining way to end 2012 and I look forward to coming back to Blitz much sooner next time!
For more info on Blitz, head to PWBlitz.com or check out the Pro Wrestling Blitz Facebook page.

Ruff Crossing, Scott Beatty and me in Joliet, IL-December 2012.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #125 Alec Baldwin & Reby Sky

This is a regular series which attempts to combine my lifelong passion for sports cards with my interest in celebrities.  The Chicago Bears are not in the playoffs.  Still, it could be worse.  New York has two teams not in the playoffs!

A native New Yorker, Alec Baldwin was born in Amityville.  His career has bounced up and down (as has his personal life).    (I will resist an Amityville horror joke about his both.)  Baldwin proudly wore a Jets jersey (classic #12 Joe Namath) for an appearance on the Late Show where he threw passes outside somewhere near the studio.  I like a Celebrity Jersey Card with a football actually in the shot!

Another native New Yorker, Reba Sky was born in Flushing.  She is credited as a model, photographer, dancer, interviewer, media personality and pro wrestler.  Not listed professionally though is her true passion, the New York Giants (no, I was not going to say Matt Hardy, although he is her significant other at this writing).  Sky is a huge fan of the Giants and can be seen at many games.  Everyone knows I am a Manning fan, but I must say Ms. Sky looks better in the jersey than Eli does.  Is this the first Celebrity Jersey Card with a hard hat?

In the Big Apple with Angelina Love

Lauren Williams made her wrestling debut in 2000.  Since then, she has appeared as Angelina Love (for TNA) and Angel Williams for other organizations.  She has won the TNA Knockouts title five times and the Knockouts tag title once.
She has worked very hard to improve her in-ring performance.  Especially in TNA, she has done an excellent job of presenting women as wrestlers, not just eye-candy.
II was pleasantly surprised by her at a convention a couple years back.  The room was way too crowded, leaving little space to even walk through the room.  Still, Love made it a point to move in front of her table for better pictures with her fans.  Believe me, in that room, it was a pretty big undertaking for her to keep moving back and forth.  I always try to applaud that kind of effort.

Angelina Love and me in New York, NY-June 2009.

Child's Play with Alex Vincent

I thought Child's Play was a great horror movie.  I loved the Chucky character.  I had the pleasure of meeting Chucky (Brad Dourif) several years ago.  Young Andy Barclay wasn't a big fan of the Chucky (because Chucky tried to kill him).
At the recent Days of the Dead convention, I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Vincent who played Andy.  Andy had an interesting group of fans waiting to meet him.  There were a lot of young females and there were a lot of older male horror fans like me.  To his credit, Alex spent quality time with everyone.  He seemed excited to be at the convention.  In fact, he mentioned wanting to appear in Chicago.
It's hard to believe Child's Play came out 23 years ago.  It's also hard to believe that young Andy is now in his late 20's.  It was fun meeting Alex, but I feel a bit older now!

Alex Vincent and me in Indianapolis, IN-July 2011.

Darn You Luke Perry!

I had a major crush on Lauren Holly during her time on All My Children in the late 80's.  Okay, I have had a major crush on Lauren Holly since her time on All My Children in the late 80's.  She would probably make my Mount Rushmore of famous crushes.
At Wizard World, I was fortunate enough to be confirmed for a short interview with Lauren.  As usually happens at these conventions, Lauren was very busy and the interview got delayed.  Then it got delayed again.  I was determined to get it (and Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker was determined to get it for me).
At one point, Lauren said to come back when her line died down.  Matt and I camped out about 20 feet from her booth (not too close, but close enough to seize the right moment).
After about 10 minutes, there was only one person left in line and no stragglers headed in Lauren's direction. Matt and I made our move, only to have Luke Perry beat us to her.
Darn you Perry!
Perry had the booth next to hers and apparently had nobody at his booth, so he took the opportunity (my opportunity) to scootch over and start chatting with the lovely Lauren.
Darn you Perry!
After a few minutes (during which I was tempted to pay someone to go to Perry's booth to get him away), Perry finally returned to his booth and my moment arrived.  Lauren was very pleasant and apologized for the continual delays.  In turn, I apologized for my potential paparazzi-like behavior.  I simply stated that I was a huge fan and did not want to let this great opportunity go.
As promised, I kept the interview short.  All the while, I kept thinking "wow, I am interviewing Lauren Holly."  Yes, it really does happen like that.
I wrapped up in about 3 minutes, just as her line had started to build again.  I thanked her again, thanked Matt again and walked away on air.
Then I walked over to Perry and hit him.  No, actually Perry was very nice when I met him and he had no idea I was waiting to interview Lauren.  It all ended well, although if he cost me the interview, I might have hit him.

Lauren Holly and Luke Perry in Rosemont, IL-August 2012.

2012 Interviews

We had a great year for interviews at JohngysBeat.com.  We landed well over 100 interviews.  Our interview subjects included athletes, musicians, authors, artists, actors, wrestlers and more.
Below is a collage of sorts of all of our interviews last year.  Just looking at the graphics brings back the many great memories from talking to all of these interesting people.  We appreciate each one of them and each one of you for watching our interviews.
To check out any or all of the interviews, you can click here or you can do a search for the individual interview on the blog search box on the lower right side.