The Hurricane Came to Waukesha

Shane Helms had been wrestling for about a decade, when he adopted the gimmick of 'The Hurricane."  While it sounds like a cartoonish gimmick reminiscent of the wrestling caricatures of the 80's, it was not nearly as one-dimensional as those caricatures.  Plus, Helms was an excellent worker.  He used the gimmick solidly for a few years and on and off since the mid 2000's.

At the Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's (GLCW) Blizzard Brawl, Helms was in full Hurricane costume, much to the delight of the fans, including Matt and me.  I had never met Helms and it was fun to see him in this gimmick.

Gimmick have been part f wrestling for ages.  Cartoonish gimmicks like the Hurricane don't usually last for this long.  This is a credit to Helms and his abilities, both in and out of the ring.  Excellent wrestling ability is needed, but personality helps, too.  Helms pulls it off well and the fans enjoy all of Helms.  I appl;aud Helms for succeeding in this tricky business with an unusual character.

Matt Parker, Sghane Helms and me in Waukesha, WI, December 2013.

On the Beat with DiA'ndra Frye of the Chicago Bliss

DiA'ndra Frye is the newest (and probably fastest) member of the Chicago Bliss.  Frye is listed as a defensive back-wide receiver, but so far she has only seen real action on defense.

They say you can't coach speed.  The speedy Frye does not need to be coached on speed.  She has plenty of it and is definitely ready to show it on both sides of the ball.  As much fun as it is to watch her on defense, I am really looking forward to her on offense.  On one hand she can drive opposing quarterbacks crazy with her blazing speed.  On the other, I am envisioning her shooting down the sidelines going after Heather Furr bombs!  Frye is just another weapon in the Bliss arsenal for other coaches to fear!

We caught up with Frye at a recent practice.  She talked to us about her athletic background, her positions and more.  After you watch the interview, check out the Chicago Bliss on Facebook and get tickets to their next game on June 13!

Cards That Never Were: 1975 Chicago White Sox Catchers

Recently I made 1975 Topps cards for two Chicago Cubs catchers from 1974 who needed 1975 Topps cards.  Today, I prove that I am fair by creating 1975 Topps cards for two Chicago White Sox catchers who did not have cards in the 1975 Topps set.

The late Ed Herrmann was the starting catcher, logging 107 games fr the '74 White Sox.  Brian Downing was behind the plate for 63 games (starting 46).  Herrmann and Downing both received Topps cards.  They are two of my favorite cards from that set, too.

The 1974 Sox had two other players appear as catchers.  Neither of these players received cards.  I will now correct that oversight.

Pete Varney appeared in 9 games, starting 7 at catcher.  Varney stayed with the Sox through June of 1976 when he was traded to the Braves.  He finished out the season and and spent one more in Atlanta's AAA team before retiring.  I cheated a bit by using Varney's SSPC card for this recreation.

Chuck Brinkman appeared in 8 games, starting 3 at catcher.  The brother of longtime shortstop Eddie, Chuck was sold to the Pirates in July of 1974.  He finished the season and retired.  I guess since he left the Sox in July, he really did not deserve a Sox card, but I could not find any pictures of Brinkman with the Pirates.

In recapping, I used a different card photo for Varney and I made an unnecessary card for Brinkman.  You might question the purpose of this piece, but if you know my love for backup catchers, you will completely understand this.

On the Beat with Dr. Scott Cruse and the Chicago Bliss

Allow me to introduce Dr. Scott Case, the newest member of the Chicago Bliss organization.  Dr. Cruse, of the Wellness Source) is a well-known chiropractor.

Dr. Cruse jumped right to work at his first practice.  He had several members of the Bliss on his table, including Head Coach Keith Hac.  An adjusted, happy coach is a successful coach!  The early reviews were extremely positive.  What's not to like about having a chiropractor on hand to work the muscles and body parts?

This is just another example of why the Bliss is a successful organization.  I doubt other LFL teams have a chiropractor available at practices.  It also speaks of the quality of the organization that Dr. Cruse is devoting his efforts to helping the team remain healthy throughout the rough season.

We spoke to Dr. Cruse about injuries and injury prevention.  I also squeezed a few Marathon tips from the good doctor.  (Is it too early to enlist his services for Monday, October 13...aka the day after the Marathon?)

Dr. Cruse will be at practices and games.  We plan on getting all of the health news from him throughout the season.  Welcome to the Chicago Bliss, Dr. Cruse and thank you for your time and consideration.

On the Beat with Brian Crowley at C2E2 2014

Hamster Rage!  Hamster Rage?  At C2E2 2014, how could we possibly ignore the booth featuring Hamster Rage?

Hamster Rage is the brainchild of the multi-talented Brian J. Crowley, who describes himself as a hybrid web-designer.  He is also a Creative Director and Illustration professional.  Hamster Rage has been dubbed the World's Weirdest Web comic.  That's a lofty title, but I cannot disagree with it.

MegaBabe is the world's best super heroine.  Basically, she has gotten the world in order, with help from "The Allied Force" and without revealing her secret identity.  All is right until Roosevelt, her childhood pet, comes back into her life.  He is no longer the playful hamster she loved.  Instead, he is an "over eight feet tall, super strong, invulnerable" cheddar-eating chaos-maker.

I hope I did not lose you there.  I did mention it has been called the "World's Weirdest Web Comic."  I wonder what that says about Crowley's mind?  Actually, I don't even want to know.

Seriously though, Crowley was very normal and happy to talk to us about Hamster Rage.  We appreciate his time and his work.  After you watch our interview with Crowley, please check out HamsterRage.com to learn more and to get important updates (and really just to see some entertaining stuff).

Friendly Encounters: Liz Belcaster Meets Col. Adam Rocke

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

Happy Memorial Day.  Let's take a moment to remember the fine men and women who have served this country.  In that spirit, I am devoting today's Friendly Encounters to two individuals who have done great work for the veterans of this country.
Liz Belcaster of the Northwest Side Irish works tirelessly on many causes.  She is a dynamo.  The NWSI Parade is always a highlight in the community.  I have had the pleasure and privilege of marching in it the last two years.
At the 2014 NWSI parade, Col. Adam Rocke was the Grand Marshall.  I witnessed him talk passionately about his service to the country and his efforts to help veterans.  My interview with him appeared yesterday.
Col. Rocke and Belcaster are to be applauded for their efforts.  They are very actively doing great work for the men and women who have served this country.  They do this selflessly and without enough recognition.  They could never truly get enough recognition, but I am trying to shine a little more light on these two fine individuals.
Please rewatch the interview found here yesterday.  Help the cause in any way you can.  If nothing else, at least keep these fine people in your thoughts and prayers.
Thank you Col. Rocke and Liz Belcaster.  I am proud to know both of you.

Col. Adam Rocke and Liz Belcaster in Chicago, IL-March 2014.

On the Beat with Col. Adam Rocke

With tomorrow being Memorial Day, today is a great day to post an interview I did with Colonel Adam Rocke a couple months ago.  I met Col. Rocke at the Northwest Side Irish Parade thanks to Liz Belcaster.

Memorial Day celebrates those who have died while serving in the United States Armed Forces.  Col. Rocke is active in trying to help those who have served adjust to civilian life.

Col. Rocke was the parade Grand Marshall.  He was also there to promote causes near and dear to his heart.

Hero to Hired is an employment portal of the Army.  Soldier for Life is a program to help veterans and their families transition back to civilian life.  Col. Rocke explains these programs and much more in the interview below.

It was a pleasure to meet and to thank Col. Rocke.  People like Col. Rocke devote their lives to this country and its people.  We can never thank them enough, but we can try.  I am proud to be able to present Col. Rocke and give him just a little more exposure for the program.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #175 David Cook & Ashley Underwood

This is a regular series which attempts to combine my lifelong passion for baseball cards with y semi-professional interest in celebrities.  Today, I salute two NBA teams who have fallen from their previous years of glory.

Born in Texas and raised in Missouri, David Cook gained fame from his winning performance on American Idol.  Cook is sporting Pau Gasol's #16 over a Celtics jersey?  A multi-jersey on one player is a first for Celebrity Jersey cards.

Miss Maine USA 2009, Ashley Underwood played a season of pro basketball in Europe and was on a season of Survivor.  Underwood gets extra points for actually having a basketball on her Celebrity Jersey Card, as well as wearing her tiara.  If she would have worn legit basketball shorts, this would have been an all-time great.

Loni Anderson WKRP in Novi

Loni Anderson still looks fantastic.  The woman in the picture below was 67 at the time of the photo.  That picture was taken 30 years after her hit show WKRP in Cincinnati left the airwaves.
I am not going to argue whether she had any enhancements or improvements over the years.  I am not naive enough to deny the possibility.  If she had any work done, at least I can say it was done well and at the age of 68, Loni still looked awesome.
Loni wears her hair similarly to how she wore it back then, but not in a bad way.  Some older stars cling to their youth or their old image and it just doesn't work.  Whatever Loni is doing is working for her.  She turned heads left and right at the Motor City Comic Con in 2012.
More importantly, Loni was a real sweetheart.  She eagerly posed for pictures and attempted to make her fans happy.  It is the little extra effort from a celebrity which can really make the fan feel special and grateful.
I write all of this and now I admit I was never even a huge fan of Loni.  While she was certainly on my radar, I was actually more of a fan of Jan Smithers (aka Bailey Quarters on WKRP).  I say this to prove this isn't just me drooling over a teenage crush of mine.  Actually, I might have drooled more at Loni at the convention.

Loni Anderson and me in Novi, MI-May 2012.

On the Beat with Chicago Bliss Assistant Coaches Ryan Andrews and John Witte

Assistant Coaches John Witte and Ryan Andrews are two of the unsung heroes of the Chicago Bliss.  They each have specific responsibilities, but each goes well beyond those "assigned" duties.  Basically, they do whatever is needed to help the Bliss en route to another title.

I really like Ryan and John (don't tell them that...I will never hear the end of it).  They are good guys, good coaches and just simply good for the team.  They are also good interviews.

Prior to their recent season opener, I had the distinct pleasure of interviewing both at the same time.  Handling these heavy hitter was no easy task (especially when they tried smashing me (twice).  It's all part of the fun of this team.

I enjoyed this interview immensely.  It represents all things good with the Bliss.  Here are two knowledgeable coaches having fun with the beat reporter.  It's not all a joke, though.  Their intensity comes through as they speak of the game.  There is no fooling around there.  Then when the interview ends, right back to the smashing.

They have a time to play and a time to be serious.  Once that whistle blew, the entire team got really serious and played one great game against the Los Angeles Temptation.

Thank you to Coach Andrews and Coach Witte for your time and consideration.  Congrats on win #1 and good luck as you prepare for the second game (which is on Friday, June 13 at the Sears Centre).  As usual, after you watch the interview, I highly encourage everyone to check out the Bliss.

On the Beat with Dirk Manning at the 2014 C2E2

Dirk Manning does a pretty good job of hiding his face.  He can hide all he wants, but JohngysBeat.com always finds him at comic cons.  He's a definite favorite of the Beat.  At the 2014 C2E2, we once again caught up with Manning and got a scoop on his latest projects.

You can watch the interview below and then head over to DirkManning.com to learn more about Manning and his latest projects.  His work with Big Dog Ink and his book The Tales of Mr. Rhee are his two big projects right now.  Manning considers himself a "short-story" guy, but as evidenced by the above two I mentioned, his talent isn't limited to just that.

A while back, we also learned that Manning likes pro wrestling.  After we talked a bit about his latest work, we had to squeeze in a few wrestling questions.  Manning handled them all well, giving interesting and thoughtful answers.  The man knows his stuff.
We keep going back to Manning, because we like him and his work.  If you can't make it to the various comic cons or other appearances of his, hopefully we are opening some eyes to his talent.  Manning's continual consideration to talk to us and give us the latest scoop, coupled with his willingness to talk about other interests make him an interesting interview subject.

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On the Beat with Onrie Kompan at C2E2 2014

Perhaps it was JohngysBeat.com's Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker's recent trip to the Far East that subconsciously lead him to Onrie Kompan's booth at C2E2 2014.  No matter the reason, we are happy we came across Kompan.

Kompan is the author and creator of the Yi Soon Shin: Warrior and Defender series.  That sounds like the title of any warrior-based comic.  What really makes this one different is that it is based on a true story.

Admiral Yi Soon Shin was a Korean naval commander who saved his countrymen from Japanese invasion during the Imjin War (1592-1598).  The ruthless, remorseless Japanese raped, enslaved and killed.  One man who stood against them and could not be defeated was Yi Soon Shin.

This isn't typical comic fare, but it is definitely entertaining, as well as being educational.  The artwork is incredible, too.  This whole series is so well done.  I am happy and proud to spread the word on Yi Soon Shin.

After you watch Matt's interview with Kompan, be sure to check out the Yi Soon Shin Facebook page to learn more about it and to get important updates.

Friendly Encounters: Scotty Young Meets the Chicago Bliss

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

Scotty Young is one of the rising young stars at Resistance Pro Wrestling.  His long-running feud with Jake O'Neill  brought them both into the spotlight.  They both stepped up and really showed the fans and R Pro management what they could do in the ring.  Both men have bright futures in the wrestling business.
Scotty is a bright guy, too.  While most of the Friendly Encounters have one or two friends meeting a celebrity (or two), Scotty upped the ante by posing with five membrs of the Chicago Bliss.  That's about a third of the team.  Way to go, Scotty!
Actually these ladies are all rookies for the Bliss.  Much like Scotty, they are young stars of the future.  They even spent a few minutes in the R Pro ring, helping D'Arcy Dixon fend off Mickie Knuckles and some others.
The next Bliss game is Friday, June 13.  Unfortunately, the next R Pro event is the same night.  They are both winners.  Go to one of them.  You will not be disappointed.  Just ask Scotty!

Jori, Katy Massey, Scotty Young, Aubrie Nelson, Bridget McDonnell and Jess Price in Willowbrook, IL-February 2014.

On the Beat with Chicago Bliss Coach Keith Hac at the 2014 Season Opener

Last Friday, the Chicago Bliss took one giant step towards repeating as LFL champions when they beat the Los Angeles Temptation in their season opener.  Although it sounds cliche, these teams do not like each other.  It is just one win, but it was a huge victory.
I arrived early.  I love getting to an empty arena.  It is so peaceful, yet energetic.  It is cool to watch everything fall into place as time passes.
In the middle of all of the controlled chaos, Coach Keith Hac came over to us and gave us his thoughts on the game and the flag raising ceremony.  His words on the game were expected, but he did surprise me with his comments on raising the flag.  Coach Hac continues to be an honest and refreshing interview.
I watched part of the game from the end zone and part from the press box.  I have to admit to being a bit nervous at half time, as time seemed to be against the Bliss.  On the other hand, I have faith in Coach Hac and the Bliss.  I knew they would make the adjustments and come on strong in the second half.  I just hoped the clock would not work against them.
The Bliss played tough defense throughout the second half and scored on their only real possession.  (I am not counting the "kneel down" as a possession for this purpose.)  The Bliss won 25-21 and the celebration began.
We let the team have a few moments to enjoy the fruits of their labor.  They deserved that at the very least, especially Coach Hac.
When we finally approached him, he looked relieved and ecstatic.  It was a long day, full of distractions, yet the team never quit and beat a very tough Temptation team.  We also got his post-game thoughts.

I really appreciate Coach Hac giving us his time and consideration.  I also appreciate his effort in leading the Bliss.  I highly encourage everyone to hop on the Bliss bandwagon now!  Their next game is Friday, June 13.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #174 Alyssa Milano & Ally Raisman

This is a regular series which attempts to merge my lifelong obsession with baseball cards with my semi-professional interest in celebrities.  I continue my theme of ousted teams from the NHL playoffs.

I have whined several times about Alyssa Milano and her recognized fandom.  I have no doubt she sports fan, but the accolades she gets for being such irritate me (okay, maybe I am just jealous).  For such a rabid sports fan, I had to search long and hard (I need a life) to find any picture of her in a sports jersey of any sort.  I found one of he in a Dodgers jersey, but she was young.  Again, I find one of her as a youngster.  I don't know the Pittsburgh connection.  What really puts me over the top about all of this is that I really like Milano.  She is a former child actress who seems to have avoided a downfall.  Of course, her beauty also softens my irritation.  Anyway, she gets some extra credit for the cool hat with her jersey on the Celebrity Jersey Card.

Ally Raisman was captain of the gold medal-winning US women's gymnastics team at the 2012 Olympics.  She also won a gold and bronze individually, along with other medals at various other events.  The native of the Boston, MA area stuck to her roots with her Boston Bruins jersey.  Gold medals on a Celebrity Jersey Card are always cool.

Happy Birthday Laura

Today is my niece Laura's birthday.  I still vividly remember my sister Nancy telling me that she was pregnant, but it seems the time since has been a blur.

Laura is an awesome young lady.  She is smart, opinionated, funny, beautiful and so much more.  She is courageous and adventurous, as proven by her move to New York several years ago.  Fortunately, she has since moved back.  I joke about being tortured on that moving trip, but in fact, I treasure the memory.

You are the best, Laura!  I hope you have a great birthday and that your upcoming year is your best ever.  Happy birthday and I love you.

Laura Fitzpatrick and me in Mokena, IL-November 2013.

On the Beat with Ms. Dr. Joseph Simonis of the Windy City Rollers 2014

At last moth's exciting night of action with the Windy City Rollers, we talked to WCR rookie Ms. Dr. Joseph Simonis.  Simonis is a member of the Double Crossers, which naturally means that Scott Beatty handled the interviewing duties.

Simonis is very interesting and we only scratched the surface.  Her page site, JosephLSimonis.com, states that she is a "gender-non-conforming athlete, activist, and scientist."  That is quite a combination.  She has accomplished a lot, on and off the flat track.

This is just another example of the quality of people associated with WCR.  These athletes are dedicated, tough and entertaining.  They also have separate lives sometimes completely different from their roller derby persona.

I highly encourage everyone to check out the next big night of WCR derby action on Saturday, May 17 ad they compete for the Ivy Cup.  It is a guaranteed fun night for all.

On the Beat at Resistance Pro's "Don't Tread"

Last month's Resistance Pro's "Don't Tread" was another excellent show.  If you think I am just repeating myself, I challenge you to come to one of their shows and find out for yourself.  You will be saying the same thing, too.

It was another solid night for JohngysBeat.com, too, as we got several interesting interviews.  "Mr. M80" Marshe Rockett was getting shot at Jocephus Brody's title.  We talked to Marshe before his match and got his thoughts, along with the first look at his new shirt available for purchase.

After a year long absence (because of a "Loser leaves R Pro for a year" match with "The Ego" Robert Anthony), Mr. 450 returned and was looking for revenge.  We talked to him about what he had been doing and what his future holds.

Warden Myers is right in the middle of the action as always.  Two of his inmates were fighting for freedom, but one chose not to fight.  The Warden is never without a backup plan though.  He had two new men under his thumb, although he wouldn't reveal them during the interview.  (Johngy's Beat does give the reveal in it though.)

Chris Hall revealed his new shirt, but did not reveal his latest career path.  (Check back to the Warden's interview for a little clue.)

Just when I thought I was going to get that interview with Colonel Jesse Corgan, Timekeeper Mike Bellcaster stepped in and ousted me.  I have no idea where this is going, but I do not like it one bit.

Superfan and wrestling columnist Jonathan McMahon made his interview debut on both ends of the questions.  First, I interviewed him about his path to Resistance.  Then he took over the interview duties and got the latest scoop from Scotty Young.  Welcome to the JohngysBeat.com Universe, JMc and thank you.

That's a lot of action for a three hour show and that is just from my end.  The actual R Pro wrestling was even more entertaining.  Plus, I did not even mention the women of the Chicago Bliss who were there again.  Next show, I will have to get their opinions.

Speaking of the next show, it is this Friday, May 16.  "Savage Amusement" promises to be what the title proclaims.  Two days away and I can't wait..

Happy Birthday Tom

Today is the birthday of Tom Skalski, one of my first friends ever.  We go back to the first grade at Sacred Heart School on the south side of Chicago.
Tom and I went together through eight years at Sacred Heart and four years at Mount Carmel High School.  We had a ton of fun through the years.  We experienced baseball cards, record albums, concerts, sports, street football and other shenanigans.
We went to different colleges and I moved out of the neighborhood a few years later.  We lost touch around 1990.  I saw him at a Hawks game once in the late 90's.
Several years back, I really started to long for the old neighborhood and friends.  I am not sure if I was just feeling old or nostalgic or what.  My dream was a reunion of the 1979 Sacred Heart class.
I don't even remember how we reconnected.  I think I sent him a note.  In any case, we did reconnect and we have stayed in touch ever since.
We go to one Cubs game and one Hawks game every year.  Oh sure, we aren't the closest of friends now.  Tom has his life and I have mine, but we are friends again.  That s the important thing.
A few months back, I saw Tom and a few other former class mates at a funeral for another former classmate.  This wasn't the reunion I wanted.
Naturally, I left Steve Iwinski's wake so very sad.  I hadn't talked to Steve since around 1990, too.  While I wasn't as close to Steve as I was to Tom, I still felt the loss of "one of us."
I did walk away very glad Tom and I reconnected.  Life is short and nothing is promised.  Tom was a huge part of my youth and I am glad he is part of my life now.
I have since reconnected in bits with other former classmates.  I don't see that 1979 class reunion happening anytime soon (although I would still love it), but at least I have caught up a bit with about half of the class.  That's a start.
Happy birthday Tom and thanks for being a lifelong friend.

Tom and me in Chicago, IL-April 2014.

Friendly Encounters: Jay Bradley Meets ChrisDell Harris

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

"Lonesome" Jay Bradley was one of the biggest names in the beginning days of Resistance Pro Wrestling.  Bradley was always around the title scene or wrestling the big names who visited R Pro.  Bradley could always be counted on for excellent matches.
Just when it seemed he was within the grasp of winning the R Pro Heavyweight title, he signed with TNA wrestling.  Bradley definitely deserved the exposure, but everyone hated to see him go.  To his credit, Bradley kept returning to R Pro and putting on high quality matches.  Bradley was always willing to give us an entertaining interview, too.
Recently, Bradley has been wrestling in Japan.  As much as everyone hated to see him away so much, Japan presents a great opportunity for him.  Hopefully, we will see him back here on occasion, as well.
The last time I saw him was at R Pro's "Girls Girls Girls!" event.  He was one of the most popular wrestlers with the Chicago Bliss players who were celebrity lumberjills for the night.
I would like to take this time to publicly thank Bradley for his availability to us for interviews.  I'd also like to wish him a lot of luck overseas.

Jay Bradley and ChrisDell Harris in Willowbrook, IL-February 2014.

On the Beat with JP Peletis of the Fox 103.9

Resistance Pro Wrestling has been around for about 2.5 years.  The Fox 103.9 has been around for about a year.  The Chicago Bliss have been around in one form or another for 10 years.  Last Saturday, these three relatively new companies all came together at Gnarly J's at the 2014 Chicago Bliss Kickoff Party and JohngysBeat.com's Special Interviewer Eric St. Vaughn of R Pro talked to JP Peletis about all of this.

The Fox just recently announced a sponsorship with the Chicago Bliss.  The Fox has already been associated with R Pro for a while.  Recently, R Pro and the Chicago Bliss have come together for some joint possibilities.  As JP explains, it all makes perfect sense and is beneficial to all.

Knowing all three companies, I can attest to the quality of each, the class of people and the way each does business.  Each is top notch and that is why I love working with all of them.

This is just the beginning of this three-headed monster.  I expect more mutual support and events.  Of course, JohngysBeat.com will be at those events.

Once again, ESV (he of the 40k video views) does an outstanding job being on the other side of the interview.  I also want to thank JP for his kind words about appearing in a JohngysBeat.com interview.  I am quite sure there will be more JP.  Just ask ESV and his multiple interviews!

Celebrity Jersey Cards #173 Miley Cyrus & Jack Swagger

This is a weekly series which attempts to combine my lifelong passion for baseball cards with my semi-professional interest in celebrities.  I am saluting two NBA teams who lost in the first round of the playoffs.

Destiny Hope "Miley" Cyrus was born in Nashville, TN, but she is not wearing a Memphis Grizzlies jersey on her Celebrity Jersey Card.  Instead, she is wearing the jersey of the greatest of them all.  You can't go wrong with a Michael Jordan Bulls jersey, especially the way Miley wears it.  Despite their playoff exit, this will leave a positive image of teh Bulls to start the long offseason.

Jacob Hager, Jr. rose to fame as Jack Swagger in the WWE.  The professional wrestler sports a Dallas Mavericks Dirk Nowitzki jersey for his Celebrity Jersey Card, despite the fact that he hails from Tulsa, OK.  Swagger is 6'7".  I am not about to question why he cose the Mavs over his area OKC Thunder.

On the Beat with Smaxl Rose of the Windy City Rollers 2014

In late 2013, Smaxl Rose was drafted by the Hell's Belles of the Windy City Rollers.  Now she wears #85 for the Hell's Belles, who are currently tied for second place with the Fury.

It was a lot of fun talking to Smax (but it is always fun talking to all of the Windy City Rollers...what a great bunch).  There is a funny little story behind her name, but I will let her tell you in the interview below.

She also talks about joining WCR, being drafted by Hell's Belles and a lot more.  Like I wrote earlier,. it was a fun interview.

Smax is just one of the fun and athletic women of WCR.  I have enjoyed myself each time I have attended a WCR game night.  These women put on a great show.  It is a tough sport (yes, it is now totally a legit sport) and these ladies are up for the challenge.  There are a lot of practices between games.

This roller derby is not the theatrical stuff of yesteryear, but it is just as much fun, if not more.  Now it is all real, while still being a load of fun.

Check out the interview with Smaxl Rose.  After watching it, check out the league at WindyCityRollers.com.  After that, check them out in person at a game!

On the Beat with Amanda Lundvall

I could have entitled this "One Stepping with Amanda Lundvall."  As mildly creative as that would have been, I decided to stick with my usual "On the Beat with..."  I like uniformity.
Anyway, I have known Amanda for a couple years.  We met through Eric St. Vaughn of Resistance Pro Wrestling.  As a matter of fact, ESV has been trying to get Amanda on the Beat for a while.
Aside from being an R Pro fan (and an ESV fan and a Body Magic fan), Amanda likes to run.  When I announced I would be running the Chicago Marathon with my niece and nephew, Amanda joined the group.  The more the merrier (pain loves company).
Because of the new lottery system that was implemented for the Chicago Marathon, we were not guaranteed to all be accepted, unless we joined through a charity.  We settled on Children's Oncology Services.  Team One Step offers summer camp and other education and excursion programs throughout the year to children stricken with cancer.
Amanda has been training hard.  She has already done a few shorter runs, including one last Saturday morning.  The ultimate plan was that ESV would interview all of us as we finished the Marathon and thus Amanda would make her Johngy's Beat debut.
At the Chicago Bliss 2014 Kickoff Party, ESV asked Amanda about doing an interview on the spot.  Surprisingly, Amanda agreed.  Could it have been ESV's incredible charm?  Could it have been the euphoria of the evening?  Could she have still been light-headed from her earlier run and her usual lack of sleep?  Could she have possibly had a plan in place?
Hmmm.
After watching the interview, a wrestling fan might think that Amanda is developing a gimmick, if you will.  Silent but deadly?  The silent assassin?  The woman of few words?
Whatever the case might be, I am happy to see Amanda make her Beat interview debut.  Kudos to ESV for getting this done.
More importantly, I want to wish Amanda luck throughout her training process.  I have run in over 20 Marathons.  Many people have stated an interest in running with me.  Nobody has ever actually attempted it, except for my bud and business partner Louie (who finished with me in 1990).
This year, Sam, Matt and Amanda are all committed to the Marathon.  It is hard to say that months of training for 26.2 miles of torture is fun, but in this case it is.
Good luck to Amanda and thanks to ESV for another excellent job.

Bliss Assistant Coach Witte Walks the Line

Okay, actually Assistant Coach John Witte coaches the offensive line.  I got a little cute with the title and Coach Witte should chop block me for it.

Actually Coach Witte wouldn't chop block, nor would he teach it.  He doesn't have the need.  He teaches plays the right way.'

Coach Witte embraced JohngysBeat.com when we started covering the Bliss.  Let's be honest, I have a lot of fun with this, but I know I am not ESPN.  Yet, Coach Witte took time to help us sort out the players and set up interviews.  In other words, he went out of his way for two "rookies" trying to cover the team.

If he did that for us, you know what he does for his players.  I definitely know, because I have seen and heard him in action.

I see him patiently work with the ladies from the ground up.  Most of these women have not played real football prior to the Bliss experience.  Coach Witte starts them with remedial level and works them through a Master's Degree in offensive lineology.  Oh, and he did this all in about 15 practices.

Many people say that games are won or lost on the line.  Many say that is where they focus during the game.  I kind of watch everything for bits, but I plan on watching a bit more line play this season.

One of the coolest things I have experienced in practice was Coach Witte explaining some blocking techniques (footwork and all) to me.  I could listen to that all day.  It really just fascinates me.

Now, I will have an even bigger appreciation for the development of plays.  I will be watching for the offensive line to open holes for ChrisDell Harris and our runners, as well as provide pass protection.

I really appreciate Coach Witte for being generous with his time.  Witte is a perfect representative of the Bliss.  Knowledgeable, friendly and considerate.  He is just another of the many great parts which come together to make an even greater whole.

Check out the Bliss in Hoffman Estates on Friday, as they start their title defense against the Los Angeles Temptation.  This season is going to be memorable!

Coach John Witte and me in Darien, IL-January 2014.

On the Beat with the Chicago Bliss at the 2014 Kickoff Party

The Chicago Bliss finally kickoff their 2014 season this Friday night against the Los Angeles Temptation.  The team held a kickoff party at Gnarly J's in Downers Grove, IL and JohngysBeat.com was there to cover it (okay, we were there for the fun...and to cover it).

That's not all though.  Our friends at Resistance Pro Wrestling were there supporting the Bliss and promoting their next event, "Savage Amusement."  With two great organizations at a lively bar, you know it was a fantastic night.

I decided to take a rest from my interviewing duties and I recruited R Pro's Eric St. Vaughn.  Usually ESV is the man being interviewed.  He is the man of 40,000 views, too.  He has been pressed into interviewing duties a couple times in the past, but he really worked it this night.

ESV talked to Bliss veterans Nneka Nwani and Deena Fagiano, as well as rookies Bridget McDonnell and Jess Price.  He also managed to get Head Coach Keith Hac.  Nicely done ESV and thank you for your excellent service.

Below are the resulting interviews.  If these don't get you pumped for Friday's game, I would be shocked.  I was already on board with the Bliss but these interviews got me even more stoked.

These women are beautiful, athletic and focused.  Look out LA.  The Bliss are ready to defend their 2013 LFL title.

Friendly Encounters: Jean Parker (Finally) Meets Taylor Hicks

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

My sister had tried to see Taylor Hicks a few times in Las Vegas   He cancelled his shows for one reason or another.  Jean kept trying though.  I am sure it had to be hard to persuade Scott to return to Vegas.
Actually, we all tried to see Hicks on my last trip to Vegas earlier this year.  I even attempted to setup an interview with him.  I was declined by his press person.
Ordinarily, I would write about this snub and follow his career since then to determine if he has hit hard times, like a lot of the people who have previously snubbed JohngysBeat.com (I am talking to you Bobby Jenks etc).  This time though, I will stay positive.  This is about Jean finally seeing the leader of the Soul Patrol.
On their latest trip, Jean and Scott did see Hicks and Jean got a picture with him after the show.  (She is always looking out for me.)  For the record, Jean and Scott also enjoyed the show.
In summary, all is positive.  Jean finally sees Hicks in concert.  JohngysBeat.com gets a fun Friendly Encounter.  Hicks gets himself on JohngysBeat.com.  Scott gets...wait a minute.  What does Scott get?
He lost a "reason" for going to Vegas.  He lost time at the casino.  He didn't get on JohngysBeat.com.  Hmmm.
Truthfully, Scott gets the love of Jean and really, that should be plenty for him.  Plus, I am quite sure he will find another reason to head to Vegas.

Jean Parker and Taylor Hicks in Las Vegas, NV-November 2013.

#Marathon Comeback and Children's Oncology

I attempted my first Chicago Marathon on a rainy day in 1988.  Because of a throbbing knee and pure exhaustion, I quit around mile 17.
I hated to quit and I carried that angst for a long time.  I also carried knee pain for about 6 months.  Because of the former and despite the latter, I decided to run again in 1989.
I finished the 1988 Marathon in about 6 hours.  Since then, I have attempted about 20 Marathons and completed 14.  My last Marathon was in Chicago in 2001.
I planned on to running a Marathon again.  That plan was changed last year when my niece Sam and my nephew Matt approached me about running a Marathon with them.  How could I pass up that opportunity?  Since then, our group was joined by Amanda, a friend I met through Resistance Pro.
I started posting my training progress on Facebook with #MarathonComeback.  This was my way of making certain I would go through with it and also to get your support.  Believe it or not, every little bit of support helps.
We debated several Marathons before deciding on the Chicago Marathon.  Since we wanted to run together, we did not want to risk the Marathon lottery.  Running for a charity would allow us to bypass the lottery and guarantee we would all get in.
We checked out some charities, before deciding on Children's Oncology Services.  COS appealed to us because it is about kids.  It provides programs for kids with cancer.  Helping cancer-stricken children touched us.  These innocent youngsters deserve whatever enjoyment can be gotten.
I am running the 2014 Marathon one way or another.  This isn't for me.  This is for the kids.  I am asking you all to support a great cause by pledging any donation to my efforts.
To learn more and to make a donation, please go to Johngy's Team One Step page.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #172 Clay Aiken & Chris Carpenter

This is a regular series which attempts to merge my lifelong passion for baseball cards with my semi-professional interest in celebrities.

Clay Aiken is a native of North Carolina.  Like a lot of musicians, the singer has worn a lot of jerseys during his concerts.  In Dallas, he wore the Stars jersey.  I like the look of his Celebrity Jersey Card, but I would have liked to have seen him go old school with a North Stars jersey.

After 6 seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays, Chris Carpenter joined the St. Louis  Cardinals for the final 9 seasons of his career.  In 2011, he went 11-9, but 4-0 in the playoffs as the Cardinals won the World Series.  That pretty much cemented him as a hero in St. Louis.  He is wearing a Blues practice jersey on his Celebrity Jersey Card, which might bend my rules a bit, but the gloves, stick and skates more than make up for that.

On the Beat with Delta Slamma of the Windy City Rollers-2014

Our coverage of the fun action at Windy City Rollers continues with some fresh meat.  It's not necessarily our term.  That's what pre-rookies are called by the Windy City Rollers.

As hesitant as I was to unleash JohngysBeat.com Correspondent Scott Beatty on this pre-rook, I also figured that since she is taking all of the hits and knocks of WCR roller derby and trying to prove her skill and toughness, what better way than to take on Scott.

Delta Slamma is the "fresh meat."  She is a well-spoken and talented player.  The goal of any fresh meat is to be drafted onto one of the four home teams of the WCR.  While still fresh meat, the prospective player learns the ropes and improves her game until she is draft-ready.

Delta spoke to Scott about her fresh meat status, her start with WCR and more.  Having not heard of the fresh meat status, again we learned something new and interesting about WCR.  Delta Slamma gave us insight into the mind of fresh meat.

Did Scott take it easy on her or did she handle him well?  Probably a little of both.  Scott brought up interesting topics and Delta Slamma gave him interesting answers.  The result is a fun interview.

The next night of exciting WCR action is Saturday, May 17 as the home teams battle it out for the Ivy Cup.  You can get all of the info at WindyCityRollers.com.

The Rick Stelmaszek Files:Part 20

It's been a while since I delved into the Rick Stelmaszek Files.  Bob W's Custom Baseball Cards has given me material for this installment.

Bob W. is the masterful force behind a site loaded with great custom card creations.  While roaming around (okay, I admit, I spent hours on Bob's site), I found four custom cards he made of Rick Stelmaszek, one of JohngysBeat.com's all-time favorites.

I don't know where he found the pictures, but the cards are awesome.  I think the Yankees card is a PhotoShop, but it works, especially for a card of that era.  Stelmaszek never played for the Yankees major league team, only their minor league affiliate.

I love these cards for several reasons.  First, I just love custom cards, especially when there was no other card.  Even when there was another card, I like seeing alternate versions.  In this case, Stelmaszek did not have a 1969 card nor a 1976 one.  He had one from 1974, a card picturing him airbrushed decently into an Angels cap.

I wonder why Bob chose these particular years to use?  Maybe Bob will see this and answer my question.  I would have liked to have seen one of those psychedelic 1972's featuring Stelmaszek or even a full card version of his 1973 Rookie Prospects card.

Besides the Stelmaszek cards, there are a ton of other custom goodies on Bob's site.  Lately I have literally been spending hours marveling at all of the creations.  If you are into cards or custom cards, check out Bob's site.