Danielle Zymkowitz and the Wisconsin Badgers

Danielle Zymkowitz was one of the first Chicago Bandits who really stood out when I saw my first National Pro Fastpitch game in Rosemont.  She was a smooth infielder and a solid hitter.  She just had that "ballplayer" vibe to her.

After the game, I did my research and learned she had a fantastic career at the University of Illinois.  She won a starting job with the Bandits in her rookie season of 2011.  She also earned all-NPF honors and a Rookie of the Year nomination.  She has been a pleasure to watch over the years.

Because of her talent and her personality, Danielle has been one of the most popular Bandits.  She worked very hard honing her craft, but also gave a lot of herself to the many young fans.  She also gave me her time for several interviews over the years and I appreciate it great ly.

Danielle began her coaching career as a student assistant while at Illinois.  Fast forward several years and she is now an assistant coach with the Wisconsin Badgers.  Like her Wisconsin coaching colleague Kirsten Verdun, Danielle is just at the beginning of what should be a long and successful career.

I had the pleasure of cacthing up a bit after the series finale on Sunday.  During the series, I watched her coach.  Danielle looked very happy, relaxed and enthusiastic.

I want to publicly thank Danielle for her contributions to the successs of the Bandits over the years.  I also want to thank her for her time and consideration in always talking to me, whether in interviews or just around the ballpark.  Danielle is all class.  I wish her well and I look forward to watching her coaching career progress.

Danielle Zymkowitz and me in Evanston, IL-March 2017.

Kirsten Verdun and the Wisconsin Badgers 2017

I have covered the Chicago Bandits for the last three seasons.  Midway through the 2015 season, something happened which I will never forget.

Until that day, Kirsten Verdun was just one of the Bandits.  I totally respected and appreciated all of the Bandits.  Kirsten was one of the pitchers.  I had interviewed her a couple times and had talked with her around the ballpark.

The fateful day occurred in August.  I learned I would be getting to bat against the Bandits in a charity game.  As I sat in the dugout, my mind was racing.  I didn't even realize who I would be facing.

My name was announced and I grabbed my bat.  When I looked at the mound, I saw Kirsten standing there.  Four pitches later, I was heading back to the dugout.  I hadn't even touched any pitch, but I did manage to coax a ball out of her.

Kirsten was throwing around 60+ mph (which translates to about 90+)  I really didn't have a chance, but I had a blast.  I have joked about this many times since then, including with my nemesis Kirsten.  Actually, Kirsten was as sweet as could be and has been a great sport about reminiscing about my one at bat.

When I saw the Northwestern Wildcats were playing Wisconsin, I immediately was looking forward to seeing Kirsten, who is an assistant coach for the Badgers.

After the first game, I saw Kirsten and we briefly talked and took the picture below.  It's always good seeing former Bandits, but I will always have a special place for Kirsten.

She has now retired from the Bandits and is embarking on a career in coaching.  I am confident Kirsten will do well in coaching.  In addition to her talent, she is very knowledgable and personable.  Having been around her at the ballpark, I have seen her work ethic.  I have seen her helping other players and also learning from players and coaches.

I really want to publicly thank Kirsten for her contributions to the Bandits, but also for her friendship and consideration.  I look forward to watching her career develop and I will always look back on that one at bat and smile.

Kirsten Verdun and me in Evanston, IL-March 2017.

Back on the Beat With the Northwestern Wildcats

After the Chicago Bandits won the NPF title last year, I thought I'd have to wait until June 2017 to see softball again.  Then I discovered the Northwestern Wildcats had a tournament in October.  Since I fell in love with women's softball, the Wildcats presented a new and different opportunity.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Heach Coach Kate Drohan prior to the tournament.  That interview can be found at On the Beat With Coach Kate Drohan of the Northwestern Wildcats.

I was immediately impressed with Coach Drohan.  She seemed to have a great blend of the necessities to be a great coach.  In our short chat (on and off camera), she showed respect, humor, enthusiasm, knowledge and more.

I walked away really looking forward to the 2017 season, which started in February.  Conference play would start in March and that signaled some home games.  Last weekend, conference play started and I was aesconsed in a sea of purple as I watched the three game series against the Wisconsin Badgers.  Unfortunately, the Purple lost two of three to the Red, but the games were exciting.  I saw several great defensive plays in the outfield.  I am not exagerrating when I saw, the Badgers were robbed of at least two home runs.  My full recap can be found on the Patch at Back on the Beat With the Northwestern Wildcats.

I am looking forward to a lot of exciting softball action in Evanston this season.  Maybe I'll even see some future Bandits on the field.  For more info on the NU Wildcats, including the schedule, roster and other interesting stuff, check out NUSports.com.

Kate Drohan and me in Evanston, IL-October 2016.

On the Beat With the Rockford IceHogs 3/25/17

My battles with sleep apnea and the surgery/recovery has kept me away from the Rockford IceHogs for most of this season.  Is it just coincidence that the team is in last place?  Seriously, I can't make the connection to me being there and the team winning, but it is kind of fun to mention it.

Anyway, I made my return to Rockford last weekend.  Unfortunately, the team lost 4-0 to the Grand Rapids Griffins.  My full recap is on Puck Planet at The Rockford IceHogs Continue to Lose, Continue to Learn.

The game seemed to start on a positive note, as Brandon Mashinter scored a goal early in the first period.  That goal was disallowed though, because of goaltender interference.  After that, the scoring was all Griffins.

Despite the shutout, the IceHogs actually played a solid game.  They outshot the Griffins 37-21, but that did not translate to a win or even a goal.  Still, Coach Ted Dent did not blame the call for the loss.  Instead, he praised Mashinter for the shot and the team for the offensive surge.

In the post-game media session, Coach Dent compared the game to the season as a whole.  They have lots of offense, but have been unable to make it count in terms of goals.  At one point, the were near the top of the AHL in shots, but near the bottom in goals scored.  That lopsided stat translates to more frustration than wins.

Despite being in last place, there is plenty of optimism surrounding the IceHogs and rightly so.  They are using these last several games to work on drills and techniques, as individuals and as a team.  These remaining games are not empty sleepfests.

There are still nine games remaining in the season.  It would be nice to escape the cellar, but more important is to build on the positives and reduce the negatives as they look to next season.

Thank you to the Rockford IceHogs for their continued hospitality.  Head to IceHogs.com for all things IceHogs!

(Post-game media session courtesy of IceHogs.com.)

Friendly Encounters: Mike Bucci and Hardcore Heather Owens

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

I'm starting off "Days of the Dead Week" by featuring a Days staffer, who happens to be a friend and a wrestler and another wrestler who happens to be a friend.  Confused?  It all makes sense at Days of the Dead.
Hardcore Heather is a wrestler I met through Resistance Pro.  Mike Bucci (aka Nova, Simon Dean and more) is a former wrestler I met through RPro.  Both have become friends of mine.
I knew Mike lived in the area, but I completely forgot that, until Heather texted me Saturday night to tell me Mike was there and looking for me.  I quickly got back to the hotel, because I hadn't seen Mike in a couple years.  We talked and laughed about old times, including our interview years back.
Wait, this is about Heather.  Well, I owe Heather for me reconnecting with Mike.  Heather also had a good time with the rest of the wrestlers and crew, as is the usual practice at the Days of the Dead events.  It really is like a family reunion.
Ironically, I somehow missed getting my own picture with Heather.  I know I already have a few with her, but I always like to get new ones at each event.

Heather Owens and Mike Bucci in Louisville, KY-September 2016.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #315 Richard Pryor & Chelsea Handler

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities seen wearing sports jerseys.  As baseball season approaches, I am featuring the MLB champion Chicago Cubs!

The legendary Richard Pryor was born in Peoria, IL and earned his Celebrity Jersey card from his performance in Brewster's Millions.  Pryor actually looks very natural in the uniform.  I could see him as a reliever from the late 60's.

Comedian Chelsea Handler was born in New Jersey.  Among her many credits is the highly successful Chelsea Lately, which ran from 2007-2014.  She showed pretty good form is tossing the first pitch at Wrigley Field leading to her Celebrity Jersey Card.  She gets extra points for wearing the Cubs hat, too.

Working With Elliott Serrano

I have been a fan and admirer of Elliott Serrano for years.  The man they call "King of Chicago geeks" is what Johngy's Beat dreams to be.  While I will never reach the level of success that Elliott has, I can proudly say that I have worked with him on multiple projects and can also call him a friend.

I first met and worked with Elliott at the Benefit for Thailand Volunteers, a charity wrestling event organized by PL Myers.  I had the opportunity to pick his brain a bit about his road to success.  Elliott was as nice as could be.

Ever the humble guy, he told me to just keep plugging, to put my stuff everywhere and to do as much as I could.  It sounds like simple advice, but actually too often we get lost by focusing on one thing, while there is so much out there and so many ways to achive a goal.

Recently, PL Myers approached me about joining him for a revamped version of his long-running HeroTV cable show.  Of course, I signed on to co-host with him.  Last week, we started taping interviews and our first guest was Elliott.

I was ecstatic to have the chance to do a real interview with Elliott.  Time flew as we talked about his career, his heroes and more.  It was more like three friends talking.  He had some great stories.  I had a lot of fun and I think the viewers will enjoy it, too.

HeroTV is scheduled to start in April.  The Elliott interview is slated tro air later this summer.  I look forward to HeroTV, more adventures and hopefully more Elliott! 

Elliott Serrano and me in Villa Park, IL-March 2017.

Tessa Blanchard Is A Third Generation Star On The Rise

Tessa Blanchard is a third generation wrestler.  Her grandfather Joe and her fatherTully were quite accomplished in the ring.  Joe played three years in the Canadian Football League and then wrestled for over 25 years.  Tully wrestled for over 30 years and might be best known as an original member of the Four Horsemen.  At 21, Tessa is already continuing the legacy.

Tessa had a couple matches in the WWE, but has mainly kept busy honing her craft on the independent scene.  I had the pleasure of watching her in action at Resistance Pro.

Wrestling is in her genes, but she also is working very hard to create her own path.  She has the looks, charisma and in-ring ability to go far.  At only 21, she has a bright future ahead of her.  I predict she will one day do big things in the WWE.

Friends and regular readers of Johngy's Beat know that I have a particular fascination with familial connections.  Third generation stars are very rare.  The Rock and Randy Orton are two of the biggest names.  There are a select few third gen women wrestlers, maybe most notably Nattie Neidhart.  I think Tessa will become the best third gen woman wrestler.  I'm glad I got to see her up close during her early days.

Tessa Blanchard and me in Summit, IL-May 2016.

Tony Scarpone at C2E2 2016

Tony Scarpone is the man behind Pro Wrestling Blitz, an independent wrestling company which usually runs shows in Joliet, IL.  Scarpone has been a fixture on the Chicago wrestling scene for many years.  I'd say he is a retired wrestler, too, but do wrestlers really retire?

It's no secret I am a loyal and staunch supporter of Resistance Pro wrestling, but I also believe there is room in the business for more than one company.  Competition is good.  Technically, these two companies compete, but their fan base, location, style and many other factors are different.

In any case, Scarpone and Blitz put on excellent shows.  Their production values might be second to none, at least in this area.  Some of their main wrestlers, like Grin, have pretty big followings and deservedly so.

Scarpone has always been good to me and I respect what he has done with Blitz.  If you happen to be around the Joliet area, you might want to check out a Blitz event.  Head to PWBlitz.com for more info, including their next event.

Tony Scarpone and me in Chicago, IL-March 2016.

Armando Estrada in Blizzard Brawl 2015

Armando Estrada had a nice run in the WWE mostly as a manager.  He remains active on the independent scene and at comic cons.

Estrada gets it.  He is armed with his trademark hat, cigar and sun glasses for fans to get the full experience and he doesn't charge ridiculus prices.  As a fan, of course, you will want the full Estrada expeirnce.  Why not?

Despite playing a heel quite well, Estrada is actually very fan friendly in person.  In short, he is the ideal celebrity guest.

You can follow Estrada on twitter to get updates and other fun stuff.  Estrada is fairly active and very entertaining.  Check him out and see him if you can.  It is definitely a fun time.

Armando Estrada and me in Waukesha, WI-December 2015.

Cards That Never Were: Henry Boucha Topps 1972, '75 & '77

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual cards for players who were missed in various sets.  It is a concept I have borrowed from too many others to list, but I thank them all for their work and inspiration.

Henry Boucha played six seasons in the NHL.  He broke in with the Detroit Red Wings in the 1971-72 season and played three seasons with them.  He played one season with the Minnesota North Stars.  Then he went to the Kansas City Scouts for a season and went with them to Colorado (as the Rockies) for one season, before retiring after the 1976-77 season.  He also had a short stint with the Minnesota Fighting Saints of the WHA.

On a couple of sidenotes, Boucha is a full-blooded Chippewa Ojibwa.  Also, in January of 1975, he was involved in an ugly stick incident which left him with broken bones around his eyes and blurred vision.  While he played two more seasons, it ultimately lead to the end of his career.

Boucha's hockey cards were a bit spotty.  He did not receive one after his first, fourth and sixth season (the last would have been a career-capper).  Of course, I had to attempt to correct this by creating a card for him from the sets of 1972-73, '75-'76 and '77-'78.

Friendly Encounters: PL Myers and Matt Parker

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Former wrestling manager extraordinaire PL Myers was "the Shot to the Top."  He worked with some of the all-time greats of wrestling, such as the Road Warriors and Bobby Heenan.

Matt "Big Money" Parker was a Contributor Extraordinaire during the earlier days of Johngy's Beat.  Along with a lot of video work and computer assistance, Matt interviewed some very big names, like Craig Biggio and the Ultimate Warrior.

When two big hitters like PL and Matt get together, anything can happen.  I'm just fortunate to be friends with both.

PL is pretty much retired from the wrestling business and Matt is pretty much retired from Johngy's Beat.  Both have moved on to more important things, such as marital bliss.  While I miss both men, I also am happy for each, because they both seeem to be happy and content.

Of course, the wrestling door is always open for a return from PL and you just neer know in wrestling.  The Johngy's Beat door is also always open for a return of Big Money.  Either way, I have great memories of both and more importantly, both are still a part of my life away from business.

PL Myers and Matt Parker in Midlothian, IL-November 2011.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #314 Shawn Michaels & Sasha Banks

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities seen wearing sports jerseys.  With WrestleMania around the corner, I am featuring some champions sporting hockey jerseys.

WWE Hall of Famer "The Heart Break Kid" Shawn Michaels made an appearance at a Pittsburgh Penguins game to introduce the line named after him.  The "HBK Line" of Carl Hagelin, Nick Bonino and Phil Kessel lead the Pittsburgh Penguins to the Stanley Cup last season.  Joining him on his Celebrity Jersey Card is broadcaster Scott Oake.

Continuing the relationship between the WWE and the Penguins, the HBK Line of Hagelin, Bonino and Kessel compared championship belts with then-WWE RAW Women's champ Sasha Banks.  WWE owner Vince McMahon had previously gifted the Penguins with a special title belt for their Stanley Cup championship.  This Celebrity Jersey Card has three Cup champs, a wrestling champ and two title belts!  Banks, born Mercedes Kaestner-Varnado in California, is a first cousin to Snoop Dog and has won the RAW Women's title three times and the WWE NXT Women's title once.

Cards That Never Were: Bobby Orr 1978 and 1979

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players who were missed in various sets over the years.  It is a concept I have borrowed from too many others to list, but I thank them all.

Bobby Orr came up with the Boston Bruins in the 1966-67 season.  He played with the Bruins through the 1975-76 season, although he saw limited action in that last year due to injuries.  Orr's place in the Hall of Fame was already cinched by this time.

With knee injuries plaguing him and contract negotiations stalling with the Bruins, Orr signed with the Chicago Blackhawks for the '76-'77 season.  He played 20 games in his first season in Chicago, but missed the entire next season.  In '78-'79, he came back, but only managed six games before he was forced to retire.

Orr received cards in every set from 1967-68 through '75-'77.  Somewhat oddly, his '76-77 card shows Orr with the Blackhawks, thanks to some airbrushing.  He received his last card, despite only playing 20 games in '76-'77, because of his star status.

He did not appear on another regular issue card during his career, which is somewhat understandable based on seasons of zero and six games.

Since my CTNW creations favor Chicago cards, I had to fill the Orr void in the '77-'78 and '78-'79 sets.  Fortunately, I found several pictures of Orr in the Hawks jersey.  I would have liked one in the white jersey, but I'm happy enough with these.

I vividly remember the hope every season.  It's a shame we could not have had more play from Orr.  At least we now have more cards of him.

Haley Reinhart + Coca-Cola = Perfection

I first discovered Haley Reinhart when I came across a YouTube Video of her singing a cover of "Creep" by Radiohead.  I was blown away.  I looked up all of her other stuf on YouTube and my fandom kept growing.

It just kept getting better.  A little more research on HaleyReinhart.com revealed that she is a native of the Chicago area.  She placed third in the tenth season of American Idol and her rendition of Bennie and the Jets was ranked by E! Online as the 14th best AI performance of all time.  She was ranked similarly high on several other AI lists, too.

Since AI, she has performed solo and as part of Postmodern Jukebox.  She also has appeared on stage with her musician father Harry.  She is fantastic in any of those combinations.

I had the pleasure of seeing Reinhart perform last summer and met her prior to the show.  She was as friendly as could be and just adobable.

I thought my opinion of Reinhart was about as good as it could be, when I came across Casey Abrams and Haley Reinhart "Caley" Stageit on YouTube.  Around the 19 minute mark, Reinhart reaches over to a nearby table, grabs a Coke and proceeds to take a big swig (see visual proof below).

Thee you have it.  The perfect woman.  She is as cute as can be.  She sings like an angel, but can also belt out a rocker.  Plus she likes Coke!  Now if only she liked men twice her age, I might be in heaven.

Chris Ehnot at Wizard World Chicago 2015

Wizard World always has a huge list of big name celebrities.  Because of this, there are a lot of big names that sometimes fly under the radar.  This is especially the case in Artist Alley.

Chris Ehnot is a graphic designer and freelance illustrator.  His resume is impressive and lengthy.  His work stretches the spectrum from comics to graphic novels to business illustrations.  He is a giant in his field.  You can find out all about Ehnot, including seeing a lot of his beautiful creations, at ChrisEhnot.com.

He is also a fun comic con guest.  He is full of interesting thoughts and facts.  He proclaims that he could survive on cereal and milk.  He was also an extra in Spiderman 3.  

Besides all of that, he is a big supporter of the Hero Initiative, a publicly supported nonprofit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators in need.  The Hero Initiative assists yesterday’s artist with medical aid, financial support and seeking paid work.  Ehnot believes in promoting and giving back.  He'll gladly sign autographs at cons, but he politely asks for donations to the cause.  It speaks volumes of Ehnot, because he could be getting more money and pocketing all of it.

Wizard World is full of big stars and I take nothing away from them.  I just like to shine the light on some of the lesser-known stars I know there.

Chris Ehnot and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2015.

Dick Griffiths II at C2E2 2017

I first encountered Dick Griffiths II at a Resistance Pro event years ago.  Of course, there he was adorned in his chain headdress, leading to his "Chain male" moniker.

He is a great wrestling fan, often jawing with the heels and cheering the faces.  He really gets into the show.  He makes it fun for the talent and the crowd, without being obnoxious.

I also cross paths with DGII at comic cons, where he can usually be found in the artist area.  He has gotten many commission pieces from the talented creators there.  He has also served as my photographer on a few occasions.

Actually, he is more than just a photographer.  He has been more like a producer, as he has guided me to some of the better artists.  I love the artists, but I admit that it is not my area of expertise.  That is where DGII excels.  He knows his stuff and he has led me to many awesome and talented folks.

So today serves as an homage to DGII and also a big thanks.  He has been a big help over the years, but more importantly, I consider him a good friend!

Dick Griffiths II and me in Chicago, IL-April 2017.

Edwin Huang at C2E2 2016

Edwin Huang is a comic artist, illustrator, and storyboard artist. His lengthy resume includes the WWE, MTV Networks, Hasbro, DC Comics and many others.  Chances are you have seen his work somewhere, because his creations are everywhere.

I owe this pciture to Dick Griffiths II.  While working with me at C2E2, DGII directed me to Huang.  I did not know him at the time, but I soon realized I had seen his artwork many times.  It pays to have knowledgeable people work the Beat with me.

Huang is also at many comic cons.  Those are a great place to meet him, see his work and even get a commission piece from him.  If you plan on getting a commission, get to him early, because he will be busy at every con.  He's that good and he's that popular.

You can see lots of his artwork on EdwinHuang.com and also get updates and info by following Edwin Huang on twitter.

Edwin Huang and me in Chicago, IL-March 2016.

Johngy Back On Puck Planet

My latest contribution to Puck Planet is "Rockford IceHogs' Slump Puts Playoffs In Jeopardy."  It is my fourth piece for Puck Planet, with many more to come.

Puck Planet is the brainchild of Ryan Crappa, who I met through the now defunct Tru School Sports site.  TSS was a fun experience and several of the talented writers there have signed on to Puck Planet.  I am happy and proud to be part of Puck Planet.

In my latest piece, I discuss the latest slump of the IceHogs and how the final fourteen regular season games look for the team.  Despite the slump, they are still fighting for a playoff spot.  I think the odds are against them, but I wouldn't say they have no shot.  They just need to right the ship right now.

No matter what happens, I will be following and covering the IceHogs through the end of their season (which hopefully goes beyond the regular season).  In the offseason, I will be dabbling with other topics.

If you are a hockey fan, Puck Planet has something for you.  It is new, but growing quickly.  Eventually, the plan is to have regular coverage of all NHL, AHL and possibly even ECHL teams, along with other feature pieces (some to be written by me).  It's just beginning and will only get better.

Friendly Encounters: Kirk Cousins and Mark Bodek

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

We recently saw Mark Bodek with Washington Redkins legend Gary Calrk.  Today, we feature my DC area friend with current Redskins quarterback Kirk Cousins.

Mark saw Clark help his Redskins win two Super Bowls (one more than I have ever seen in Chicago).  In meetng Kirk Cousins, Mark might have met another player who will help his Redskins get to another Super Bowl.

I am envious.  I am envious of Mark meeting so many interesting people.  I am envious of him having Cousins as a quarterback and of the Redskins organization.

The Redskins have been to five Super Bowls in my lifetime and they have won three.  The Bears have won one and have been to two.  That isn't a huge difference (although it is fairly significant), but it is really more about how good overall they have been.

Anyone, I'll saving my Bears complaints for another day.  I am glad Mark gets to meet so many great ones.

Mark Bodek and Kirk Cousins in Chantilly, VA-November 2015.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #313 David Boreanaz & Kiefer Sutherland

This is a weekly series freaturing celebrities wearing sports jerseys.

Actor David Boreanaz is perhaps best known for his role as "Angel" on Buffy The Vampire Slayer.  An earlier role of his was as Kelly Bundy's unfaithful boyfriend who gets beat up by papa Al on Married With Children.  Boreanaz has played some hockey for fun and charity.  He earned his Celebrity Jersey Card by wearing the jersey of the Los Angeles Kings during one of those games.  Thus, he gets extra points for the helmet and gloves!

Actor Kiefer Sutherland was born in London, but moved to California and then Toronto as a youngster.  He is quite comfortable on skates.  A Canadian citizen, Sutherland earned this OPC (Canadian) Celebrity Jersey Card when he wore the Vancouver Canucks sweater on the ice.  His #11 might have been for NHL Hall of Famer Mark Messier.

On The Beat With Minnesota Twins Coach Stew Cliburn

At Spring Training 2017, my brother-in-law Scott Parker joined Johngy's Beat as Photographer-Videographer.  As with my other friends, it was just fun to be on the field with Scott.

We arrived a bit late to do much in the way of interviewing, but we got to see the players (like Joe Mauer) up close and walk around as part of the media.

We did get a quick interview with Minnesota Twins Coach Stew Cliburn.  Stew is also the Manager for the Rochester Red Wings, the AAA affiliate of the Twins.

Stew pitched for the California Angels in 1984, '85 and '88.  He went 13-5 with 6 saves during his MLB career.  He appeared on a few baseball cards with the Angels and several more with various minor league teams playing and coaching.
His twin brother catcher Stan hit .179 over 60 plate appearances for the 1980 Angels.  The brothers had a unique bobblehead featuring both of them with the Rochester Red Wings.

Stew once said that he knew he was a major leaguer when he saw himself on a baseball card.  I always thought that had to be the coolest thing.  It's great to hear a former player say that.

Thank you to Coach Cliburn, the Minnesota Twins organization for their hospitality.  Thank you to Scott for his fine video work.

Stephanie Baer of the Omaha Heart

I don't usually mingle with the opposition, but as a "reporter" I am supposed to be unbiased.  That's my loophole and I am taking it.

Prior to a Legends Football League game a couple years ago, I had finished doing my coverage of the Chicago Bliss and I almost literally ran into Stephanie Baer of the Omaha Heart.  Despite some playful jeering from the Bliss, I had to stop and talk to Baer for a bit.

The Heart was the big underdog against the Bliss, especially on the Bliss home turf, but Baer and the Heart would not hear of it.  We talked about that and playing in relative obscurity in Omaha.  Baer plays for the love of the game and the fans.  She has the mind of an athlete and she works hard all year to stay in football shape.

The Bliss would go on to stomp the Heart 44-0 in the game, which was a microcosm of their bad season.  The Heart went winless and even a long stretch of being pointless, but they kept their heads up and never quit.  They remained classy in defeat.

I always have had great respect for my hometown Bliss, but players like Baer deserve credit, too.  Playing for a poor team in a small market has to be hard, especially with the year-round practices, lack of pay and other constraints of the LFL.  Still, there is Baer (and others) not only playing hard, but giving a few minutes to a reporter she will probably never see again.

Thank you Steph Baer.  Good luck always.

Stephanie Baer and me in Bridgeview, IL-May 2015.

Bob Boyd Climbed a Mountain With Johngy

A lot of celebrities have worn the Johngy shirt and I appreciate all of them.  Still, somehow it is always a special kick when old friends wear it.  Such was the case with Bob Boyd.

I first met Bob way back in the mid-1980's when he joined CWO&O as a salesman.  I had already logged in a year or so as a sales assistant while I went to DePaul.

Bob was always good for a laugh, a fun story and even some good career advice.  We occasionally went to lunch and also enjoyed beverages after work.  Bobn was a good guy.

Years later, through the magic of Facebook, we reconnected.  An active guy, Bob is a mountain climber.  When he requested a Johngy shirt, I had no idea he would wear one at the top of Pikes Peak on one such climb.  This is probably the highest point a Johngy shirt has ever been worn.  Way to go Bob!

I appreciate Bob's support now and I really appreciate all Bob did back in the day.  His kindness, both professional and personal, helped me on many occasions.

Bob Boyd at Pikes Peak, CO-July 2015.

Judge Reinhold at Days of the Dead Chicago 2016

At Days of the Dead Chicago 2016, Judge Reinhold joined two of my clubs.  As previously mentioned, he joined the Jay Leno Club, be requesting a photo with me.  He also joined my ever-growing list of Seinfeld characters I have met.

While I have not met any of the big four of Seinfeld, I have met quite a few actors who have appeared on the epic sitcom.  That list includes Patrick Warburton (David Pudd), Larry Thomas (Soup Nazi), David Naughton (off-the-wagon Dick), Brenda Strong (the braless wonder) and Lee Arenberg (Mike).  Obviously, there are so many actors still to go and Rena Sofer would be at the top of my list.

Reinhold has had an excellent career.  At the top of his resume I would put Fast Times at Ridgemont High, but he also had great roles in the Beverly Hills Cop franchise, Gremlins, The Santa Clause and more, including his role as Aaron, the close-talked, on Seinfeld.

Fans greeting Reinhold at Days of the Dead, spanned the ages.  Of course, a lot of people approached him and "close-talked" him.  The novelty and humor of that had to wear thin after a while, but Reinhold never showed signs of wear.  He was a great guest, laughing and talking at length with many fans.

It was a rare midwest appearance for Reinhold and leave it to Days to bring him here.  At a convention with a few huge headliners (Ric Flair, Alice Cooper, Tony "Candyman" Todd), Reinhold was one of the most popular guests.

Judge Reinhold and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2016.

Tom Richmond at C2E2 2016

Artist Tom Richmond is a native of Wisconsin.  He crossed the border during his college years to work as a caricature artist at Six Flags Great America.  He claims his work sucked in comparison to others and his goal became "not to suck."  I think Richmond is underestimating his ability back then, but either way, his ability now is undeniable.

Richmond worked at a variety of jobs involving caricatures.  He evetually worked for Cracked, although his dream was to work for Mad.  Eventually, he did land his dream job at Mad.  He also does commissions, which you can purchase through his site or at comic cons throughout the year.

Richmond is very approachable at comic cons.  In fact, rarely is someone so accomplished, so under the radar at such places.  This man's work appeared in Mad!  That magazine brought tears of laughter to generations.  It inspired many kids (including me) to attempt to reproduce the caricatures.  I first saw and fell in love with caricatures, although I never developed that talent.  I could copy their work free hand pretty well, but I could not create original caricatures.

Richmond's work is amazing, whether it is for Mad or other creations.  You can see a lot of his awesome work on and get more info, including his appearance schedule at TomRichmond.com.  You can also follow Tom Richmond on twitter.

Tom Richmond and me in Chicago, IL-March 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Bob Griese and Matthew Pike

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

I met Matthew Pike when he joined the Chicago Bliss (of the Legends Football League) as the Quarterback Coach.  Coach Keith Hac takes it that seriously, which is why the Bliss has won 3 of the last 4 LFL titles.
Matthew was a welcome addition, especially as the Bliss transitioned from the legendary Heather Furr, who retired after the 2015 season.  He worked with the new crop of quarterback prospects, before Aussie import Cinda Barclay won the spot.
Matthew quarterbacked the Purdue Boilermakers from 1991-93.  He completed 156 of 337 passing attempts for 46.3% for 2273 yards, with 12 TD's against 17 interceptions.  After Purdue, he signed as a free agent with the Dallas Cowboys, but left to play football in Europe.  He returned to the US to play indoors.
At a game last season, Matthew met Purdue legend and NFL Hall of Famer Bob Griese.  Griese starred for the Boilermakers about 25 years before Matthew lead the team.  In between were a solid line of QB's including Mike Phipps, Gary Danielson, Mark Herrman and Jim Everett.  None matched the achievements of Griese, but all were excellent at Purdue and went on to have solid NFL careers.  Of course, after Matthew, Drew Brees would be the biggest name to lead the Boilermakers.
It has to be a cool feeling to be in that line of quarterbacks.  It's like a fraternity.  Even though his NFL career did not work out, Matthew had his time to shine at Purdue.  Now he has time to shine as he guides the quarterback on the 3 time LFL champion Bliss.

Matthew Pike and Bob Griese in West Lafayette, IN-October 2016.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #312 Ashley Judd & Farah Fath

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series where I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys.  Today, we focus on collegiate hockey.

Actress Ashley Judd was born in Granada Hills, CA, but graduated from the University of Kentucky.  She represented her Alma Mater well on their promo poster a few years back and earned her Celebrity Jersey Card in the process.  I'm guessing ticket sales improved after the poster was printed.

Actress Farah Fath was born in Lexington, KY, which would explain her promo poster for the University of Kentucky hockey team.  Fath never attended UK, because she started acting as a yougster, but who really cares?  Fath in a UK hockey jersey equals one of the best Celebrity Jersey Cards yet!

On The Beat With The DePaul Blue Demons

I graduated from DePaul University 30 years ago (in June).  I attended several DePaul games then and more over the years, but none was quite like the game I attended last Saturday.

I was not sitting in the student section.  I was not sitting in the regular fan section either.  I was sitting in Press Row.  I was sitting two seats to the left of the north end basket!  This was going to be cool.

My recap of the day is on the Patch at On The Beat With The DePaul Blue Demons.  It is also the subject of my latest online contribution to Global Traveler,

Here though, I want to go beyond the numbers and the box score.  I'm going to discuss the giddy kid in me sitting almost on the basketball court.

This strikes me deep from two ends.  First, as a lifelong sports fan, it was so cool to sit this close to the action.  I even got my hands on the ball twice, when it came sailing into the press table.  Much like the feeling of standing on a Major League Baseball field, I couldn't believe I was so near an NCAA court.

Actually, I was even on the court prior to the game.  I talked to a few of the players, along with DePaul Coach Dave Leitao and Seton Hall Coach Kevin Willard.

The other part of this coolness was that I was actually part of the Press.  This never ceases to amaze me.  I always wanted to be a writer, but life took me in another direction.

I occasionally wrote a guest feature at Lerner Newspapers.  I also wrote a couple articles for Global Traveler magazine and became a regular online writer for GT.  I started a blogsite and also begane writing for other sites (like The Patch, WrestlingFigs, TruSchool Sports and more).  Somehow, it all seems to add up to a decent resume.  At least it adds up to enough to get media credentials.

So there I was with my media crednetials sitting in Press Row.  It really doesn't get much better.  Thank you to DePaul University for their hospitality.

Chyna at Days of the Dead Chicago 2015

It's always sad to see anyone die at a young age.  Seeing pictures of Chyna and me are especially sad though.

Chyna (Joanie Laurer) died way too young.  She rose quickly in the world of wrestling.  Unfortunately, she also fell too quickly.  Once out of the wrestling spotlight, things occasionally got ugly, too.

It's a shame.  Importance is placed on the wrong things at times.  Politics and other such games too often get mixed in to produce damaging results.

Chyna wasn't clear of her rewsponsibility in the mess, but she deserved better than what she got.  At times, it seemed like Chyna was against the world.  Nobody was in her corner (except maybe Howard Stern, ionically).

Recently, Chyna started making more punlic appearances.  She seemed to be doing well.  She was totally friendly and we actually forged a bit of a "fan friendship" from seeing each other several tmes in a short time span.

I thanked her fopr helping me with a literacy program many years ago.  She remembered and thanked me for including her.  We had some nice moments.

When I heard of her deth, it didn't shock me, unfortunately.  Although she seemed to be in a better place, we have seen too many wrestling personalities ride the roller coaster with bad endings.

Her death did sadden me a bit more than usual.  She just seemed like a lost soul.  I'm sure she'll eventually get inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame 9and rightly so), but I just wish it ocurred during her lifetime.  I don't fault the WWE for her passing, but a healing of sorts between the two parties might have gone a long way in helping Chyna to find peace.

Joanie Laurer and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2015.

Prefrontal Scortex at the Windy City Rollers 2017 Juanna Rumbel Cup

Aren't roller derby referees like pro wrestling referees, in that they are part of the act?  Actually, the refs in roller derby are legitimate officials.  They watch the action, enforce the rules, call penalties and keep the action within the official rules of roller derby.

I still get asked if roller derby is real or scripted like pro wrestling.  The truth is that roller derby has been both, but the Windy City Rollers and leagues like the WCR, are a legitimate sports league.  Aside from colorful names, the rest of what happens is highly competitive sports, played by skilled, trained and dedicated athletes.

Prefrontal Scortex is one such colorful name and it belongs to one of the referees of the WCR.  Like the athletes, he spends most of the night working hard on the track.  He enforces the rules, makes the calls and keeps the game flowing.  Especially in a fast-paced sport like roller derby, his role is very important to the fans.  There is so much happening on the track.  Prefrontal Scortex and his fellow refs have their hands full.  They keep the game on track (no pun intended), while not getting in the way of the action or becoming part of the game.

Thank you to the Windy City Rollers for their hospitality.  I'll be reporting on the WCR all season, but you can also follow them at WindyCityRollers.com, the WCR Facebook page and the WCR on twitter.

Prefrontal Scortex and me in Chicago, IL-February 2017.

Gene Okerlund at C2E2 2016

Meeting Mean Gene Okerlund was like meeting a piece of wrestling history.  The legendary broadcaster has interviewed all of the biggest names in pro wrestling.

Scottie "The WonderBoy" Steiner and I had a lot of fun at C2E2, hanging with Wisconsin promoter David Herro and Okerlund.  Scottie's colorful shirt was the topic of a few of Okerlund's jokes (and rightly so).

Okerlund looks great, too.  My first memories of Mean Gene go back to the early 80's.  Now 35 years later, I can't believe I am conversing with this legend.  (Maybe 35 years from now, I will say the same about Scottie).

In a sport where huge, ciseld bodies rule and the fans are constantly looking for the next best thing, Mean Gene is timeless.  He transcends the product.  Do not miss any chance to meet this legend.

For that matter, do not miss a chance to go to C2E2, where you can meet such legends.  Go to C2E2.com to learn about the upcoming event.

Scott Steiner, Gene Okerlund and me in Chicago, IL-March 2016.