Good Bye, Good Luck and Thank You Tatum Edwards

Tatum Edwards had an outstanding career at Nebraska.  Her awards and accomplishments could fill this page.  On the mound, she was 70-28 and she hit .297 over her four years.

Her National Pro Fastpitch career started with the Pennsylvania Rebellion.  After one season, she was traded with sister Taylor to the Bandits.  During her two seasons with the Bandits, she was used as a pitcher, outfielder and designated hitter.  She was a favorite of the fans, including me.  Her walking handstands always got the crowd cheering, but so did her overall enthusiasm.

Tatum was a pleasure to watch, but even more to know.  I had the honor of interviewing her a couple times.  She was always fun, ready and insightful.

After Taylor was traded to the Scrapyard Dawgs, Tatum announced her retirement from the NPF.  Seeing Tatum on another team would have been hard, but not seeing her in action at all will be sad.  It's a loss for the league and the fans.

I am sure Tatum will succeed wherever her life takes her.  She's dedicated, smart, funny and great with people.  I wish her a lot of luck.  I hope to see her sometime at the ballpark.  I thank her for her time, consideration and for contributing to two NPF championships with the Bandits.  Tatum Edwards, you will be missed!

Tatum Edwards and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2016.

On The Beat With Emily Crane of the Chicago Bandits 2017

We are back "On the Beat" with the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits and we could not be happier.  Today, the Johngy's Beat coverage takes us to newcomer Emily Crane.

Emily had an outstanding career at the University of Missouri.  Among other accomplishments, she was only the third player in program history to be named a First Team All-American.  She ranks in the Top Ten of several categories for Missouri, including batting average (.404), home runs (17), RBI (61), doubles (15), slugging percentage (.801) and runs scored (64).

The Tigers experienced a lot of success during Emily's four seasons, reaching three Super Regional berths in that period.  Other stars included Sami Fagan and Taylor Gadbois.  The trio all were selected in the 2016 NPF draft..  

For the Scrapyard Dawgs, the speedy outfielder hit .224 in 125 at bats, with 3 home runs, 23 runs scored, 10 rbi's and 11 stolen bases.  Also, she only committed one error in 60 chances.

After the 2016 season, Emily was traded with Taylore Fuller to the Bandits for Brittany Cervantes and Taylor Edwards.  Chicago fans were understandably upset over losing the popular Cervantes and Edwards, but we also welcome the new arrivals.

Emily joins a crowded outfield for the Bandits.  Veterans Emily Allard, Brenna Moss and Sammy Marshall are established players and other newcomers will also be pushing for playing time.  I guess you cannot have too much talent.

In our interview, I welcomed Emily and we talked about her transition to pro ball, along with playing against her former teammates and with former opponents.  We also talked a bit about her reaction to Chicago and her sightseeing in the area.

I don't know where Emily will fit in the Bandits lineup, but I am quite sure she will get her share of playing time.  She is a talented, articulate athlete and Bandit Nation will embrace her and love her.  It's going to be fun watching er develop in Chicago.

As always, I thank the Bandits for their hospitality.  I also thank Emily for her time and consideration and I wish her luck in her first season here.

Continue to check back here for our recurring coverage of the reigning back-to-back NPF champion Bandits.  Also, go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on this great team.

Friendly Encounters: Jimmy Hart and Jim Strong

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

I've known Jim Strong for many years.  In one of our first encounters, he saved me by taking a few pictures of me with a couple celebrities, after my camera crapped out.  Jim doesn't even remember that, which goes to show you how nice the guy is.  He doesn't keep track of stuff like that.  He just helps out when he can.

Since then, I have hung out with Jim at several wrestling events or other celebrity appearances.  He is one of the most positive people I know.

Recently, he has undergone a transformation on several levels.  He joined ItWorks and losy aboit 40 pounds in a few months.  He genuinely want to help others lose weight and feel better.  You can check out his progress and get updates at Wrap It With Strong on Facebook.

On a recent trip to Florida for an It Works conference, Jim had some free time and visited Hulk Hogan's Beach Shop in Clearwater.  It was Jim's lucky day, too.  He met "The Mouth of the South" Jimmy Hart.  The longtime wrestling personality never seems to age.

Music fans might now Hart as the lead singer of The Gentrys on their hit song "Keep On Dancing."  Hart has had a long, successful and quite varied career.

Hart and Strong kind of sounds like a good tag team name.  They might be a bit too old to get in the ring, but they are both great guys either way.

Jimmy Hart and Jim Strong in Clearwater Beach, FL-February 2017.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #324 Dara Torres & Barbie Blank

This is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports   We continue working our way alphabetically through the MLB teams.jerseys.

Twelve-time Olympic medalist and former world record-holder, Dara Torres made a name for herself in competitive swimming.  She is one of only a handful of Olympians to earn medals in five different Olympics.  DT was born in Beverly Hills, CA, but earned her Celebrity Jersey Card from her ceremonial pitch with the Diamondbacks.

Born in Jacksonville, FL, Barbie Blank rose to stardom as "Kelly Kelly" in the world of pro wrestling, where she won the Divas title once in the WWE.  She is not officially done with wrestling, but she has moved on to other things such as the reality television show WAGS.  Blank gets extra points for wearing a cap on her Celebrity Jersey Card, even if it is backwards.

On the Beat With Kristen Brown and the Chicago Bandits 2017

We are back "On the Beat" with the back-to-back reigning National Pro Fastpitch champion Chicago Bandits and we couldn't be happier or more excited.  Our recurring coverage brings us to Kristen Brown.

Kristen's name is all over the leaderboards and record books at North Carolina.  Among other accomplishments, she was a 3x First Team All-ACC selection;  After her outstanding career at North Carolina, Kristen was drafted 24th overall in the 4th round of the 2016 NPF Draft by the Bandits.
In her first season with the Bandits, Kristen played shortstop, 3rd base and right field.  She hit 5 home runs (3rd most on the team) and drove in 11 runs, while hitting .225.  

In our interview below, we talked about Kristen's transition from pitcher (in high school) to shortstop (in college and beyond).  Despite her versatility last season, Kristen is alted to be the regular shortstop this season.  After the legendary career of Tammy Williams and last year's play of Jill Barrett, Kristen has big shoes to fill, but she is confifent in her abilities and so am I.  I think Kristen will carve out her own legacy and I look forward to watching her career progress.
Kristen told us about winning the NPF title and catching the final out.  I had to ask if it has sunk in yet and if she kept the ball.
We also talked about sightseeing in Chicago and other fun stuff.  One site I think should be on that list is Wrigley Field, but Kristen should be joined by the whole team for a champions night.

For all of our interviews with the Bandits, check out the Johngy's Beat Chicago Bandits playlist on YouTube.  Stay tuned here for recurring coverage and also go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the best team around!
Thank you to the Chicago Bandits for their continued hospitality and support.  Thanks, too, to Kristen for her time and for her part in bringing and nPF title to Chicago last season!

On the Beat With Megan Blank of the Chicago Bandits 2017

We are very excited to be back "On the Beat" with the National Pro Fastpitch defending champion Chicago Bandits for the 2017 season.  Actually, the Bandits are back-to-back defending champions.  Our coverage starts with Megan Blank.

Megan had a great career at Iowa.  Among other awards, achievements and records, Megan was a 4x All-Big Ten First Team selection.  The California native signed with the Bandits after an open tryout in May of 2015.

In her rookie season, Megan showed her versatility by playing games at DH, RF and 1B.  Of course, she also showed offensive promise, hitting .258 with 3 home runs and 14 rbi's.

Her second season was even better, although she started off a bit slowly.  Megan turned it on by midseason, finishing with an average of .285, with 3 home runs and 21 rbi's.  She also logged game time at 1B, 3B and RF.

Along with watching Megan up close in Chicago over the last two seasons, I had the pleasure of seeing her in action in Akron on a road trip last season.  Megan had a great game and I landed her for a post-game interview.  That was one of the summer highlights for me.

In just two short seasons, Megan has become a team leader and a fan favorite.  I have seen her sign dozens of autographs for young fans after games.

Her family is very supportive of her and the Bandits...and me!  During my last two interviews with Megan, I mentioned her Iowa bobblehead.  I had been scouring the internet for one, but I was so pleasantly surprised when Megan's father messaged me and offered one to me.  That bobblehead proudly stands on my bookshelf.  Once again, I send out thanks for that gift.  It was so very cool to receive it.

Recently, after pre-season practice, I interviewed Megan (our first of the season!).  We talked about her winning two championships in her first two seasons.  Coincidence?  I think not.  Megan was a big part of the success of the Bandits and will be going forward, especially as the team progresses through the current transition period.

We also talked about her big in-season turnaround last year.  In mid-June, she was hitting .031, but she never gave up and brought her average all the way up to .281.  That is an amazing comeback and is testament to her ability and determination.

Can you tell I am a fan of Megan?  Every team needs a player like Megan.  The Bandits and the fans here are lucky to have her.

Below is our interview with Megan.  Check the Johngy's Beat Chicago Bandits playlist on YouTube for all of our interviews with the Bandits!  Keep checking Johngy's Beat for recurring coverage of the Bandits this season and go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the best team around.

Thank you to the Chicago Bandits organization for their hospitality.  Thanks to Megan for her time and consideration now and always and for her part in bringing two NPF titles to Chicago!  Lastly, thanks to Megan's parents for that awesome bobblehead!

Alcy Bush and the 2017 Northwestern Wildcats

Alcy Bush finished her career at Northwestern by being named the All-Big Ten Defensive Team selection at 1st base.  It was a fitting capper for #14.

The graduate of Martin Luther King High School in California saw more playing time and improved steadily each season at Northwestern.  She got in 3 games her freshman year, 20 as a sophomore, 48 as a junior and 51 as a senior.  She finished her career with a .259 slugging percentage.

Alcy was as slick as could be at 1st base.  She made difficult plays look easy.  She was also awesome off the field, posing for pictures, talking and signing autographs for her young (and older) fans.  It was a pleasure watching and covering her and the rest of the Wildcats.  I wish Alcy success and happiness wherever her future takes her.

The Wildcats finished 25-29 overall and 10-13 in Big Ten Conference play.  They ranked 8th in the 14 team conference.

Minnesota, 22-1 overall was dominant and Michigan, 20-13, wasn't far behind.  Ohio State, 15-8 took 3rd.  NU was only 5 games behind the Buckeyes.

I had a lot of fun covering the Wildcats this season and I hope to be back next season with even more coverage.  Until then, you will periodically see coverage of Northwestern during the offseason.

Thank you to Director of Digital and Social Communications Doug Meffley, Head Coach Kate Drohan and the entire Northwestern University staff for their consideration and hospitality.  For more information, check out NUSports.com.  Go Cats.

Alcy Bush and me in Evanston, IL-May 2017.

On the Beat With Thomas Ian Nicholas at Motor City Comic Con 2017

I first saw Thomas Ian Nicholas as Henry Rowengartner in Rookie of the Year.  Since then, he has carved out a solid career in movies and television, as well as making his mark on the music scene.  Johngy's Beat Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker interviewed Nicholas back in 2012.  That interview can be found at On the Beat With Thomas Ian Nicholas.

Nicholas

Nicholas told us about his current project, Living Among Us, a movie about a group filming a documentary about vampires.  The Living Among Us trailer was recently released and it went viral.  Nicholas happily showed us the trailer on his phone and we were very impressed and intrigued.  I'll let Nicholas explain it in the interview below.  That interview is below and the all of our interviews from the MCCC can be found on the Johngy's Beat Motor City Comic Con playlist on YouTube.
Nicholas also talked about his band.  Most important for me, they will be playing in Chicago later this summer.  I look forward to seeing them play live.
Nicholas has come a long way from his "Rookie" days and he has a lot of exciting projects right now.  You can learn more about him and his band at ThomasIanNicholas.com, as well as the TINband Facebook page and the TINband twitter page.
We want to thank the Motor City Comic Con for their hospitality.  We also want to thank Nicholas for his time and consideration!

On the Beat With Jordan Trovillion at Motor City Comic Con 2017

I first met Jordan Trovillion at the 2012 Motor City Comic Con.  I was instantly a fan of hers and have followed her career since then.  I also had the pleasure of an update interview with her last year at the MCCC.  Those two interviews (and all of our MCCC interviews) can be found on the Johngy's Beat Motor City Comic Con playlist on YouTube.

I immediately contacted Jordan for another update interview, when I saw she would be appearing at this year's MCCC.  She agreed and the interview is below.

Jordan is an actress, but she is also a singer and a model.  I learned this year that she is doing improv and is writing a comic book, too.  Is there any end to her talents?

Seriously, Jordan is as sweet as she appears.  She is truly one of our favorites.  I have enjoyed watching her career develop and I look forward to what the future holds for her.

Speaking of the future, Jordan told us about her two current movie projects.  Mercy and The Life and Death of John Gotti should both be released this year.

I love that Jordan has a fun sign at her booth at the MCCC.  It reads something like, "Don't be afraid to ask who I am."  Believe me though, people know who she is and more people will be getting to know her as her career continues to blossom.

I will continue to follow Jordan's career and post updates here.  You can also learn more about Jordan by following Jordan Trovillion on Facebook or Jordan Trovillion on twitter.

Thank you to the fine folks at the Motor City Comic Con for their hospitality.  Thanks, too, to Jordan for always having time to talk to us.

Friendly Encounters: Johnny Whitaker and Josh Watko

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

Once again, we feature my friend Josh Watko from JW's Wrestling Memorabilia.  Josh is a great guy who meets lots of celebrities.  His website is full of great wrestling pictures, stories, reviews and more.  It is an entertaining romp through the world of wrestling.
Despite his site being focused on wrestling, Josh has met a lot of stars outside of wrestling.  One such celebrity was Johnny Whitaker, the lovable former childhood actor best known for his role as Jody on tv's Family Affair.  Whitaker also originated the role of Scotty Baldwin on tv's General Hospital and later starred on Sigmund and the Sea Monsters.  That's a pretty impressive resume for a young actor.
Unfortunately, his acting career did not flourish after that.  Fortunately, Whitaker seems to have avoided the pitfalls often associated with young actors.
I met Whitaker years ago and he was very fan-friendly and happy to discuss any of his roles.  He seemed proud of his past and content wth his present.
Josh's site is very cool, but I would love to see him expand it to include thse non-wrestling stars.  He's got plenty of pictures and interesting stories.
Despite knowing Josh for years, I ahve never met him.  I imagine that will happen at some event sometime.  That won't stop me from featring him here though.  He just has so many great pictures.

Josh Watko and Johnny Whitaker in Pittsburgh, PA-August 2015.

Good Bye, Good Luck and Thank You Brittany Cervantes

I will always have a special place in my heart for Brittany Cervantes because she was my first interview with the Chicago bandits.  I watched my first game and interviewed her on the field right after.

Cervantes had a stellar career at the University of Kentucky.  She is the only player in UK history to hit at least 10 home runs in each of her four seasons.  Despite her success at Kentucky, Cervantes went undrafted by the NPF.

The Bandits signed her in June of 2012 after a tryout.  She definitely is one of the best undrafted players in NPF history.  Among other awards in the NPF, she was the 2015 NPF Offensive Player of the Year.  She was also excellent on defense, while playing multiple positions.  She was a big part of the two consecutive NPF champions the Bandits won in the last two seasons.

Unfortunately, in this offseason, Cervantes was traded to the Scrapyard Dawgs.  There is no doubt that she will continue to be one of the league stars for the Dawgs.  It's going to be painful watching her play for them.

Cervantes is a real pro.  She's everything you'd want in a ballplayer.  She is a credit to the sport and the fans adore her.  I thank Cervantes for her time in Chicago and her part in the two titles.  I appreciate her always having time for me during interviews or simply chatting casually.  I will always recall that first interview.  I wish her luck and success as she takes her incredible talent to the Dawgs.  "Cerv" will truly be missed in Chicago.

Brittany Cervantes and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2014.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #323 Marla Collins & Ronnie Wickers

This is a regular series in which I gcreate virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys.  We continue our alphabetical journey through the teams of Major League Baseball.

Back in the 1980's, ballgirl Marla Collins was often the best part of watching the Chicago Cubs.  The situation produced one of the funniest lines ever, when announcer Harry Caray made reference to Marla "without pants."  Collins became extremely popular, but was eventually fired for appearing in Playboy.  As a nod to the old days at Wrigley, I have created a Celebrity Jersey Card for Collins.

Ronnie "Wooo Wooo" Wickers has never officially been a member of the Cubs organization, but like Collins, he has become strongly associated with the team.  Unlike Collins, the fans are split on Wickers.  Some find his constant "wooo-woooing" to be annoying, while others have embraced him.  I'm about 60/40 on that topic, but I recognize his connection by creating a Celebrity Jersey Card for Wickers.

Michelle Morris and Portia Chellelynn at Days of the Dead Chicago 2015

Model and actress Michelle Morris is a very popular guest at comic conventions.  Portia Chellelynn is also a very popular celebrity guest.  Actually, they are the same person, although I did not realize that at first.

Morris started playing guitar and writing as a teenager.  She also had three children by her early twenties, which derailed her foray into the entertainment business.  She started modeling in 2003 and made her acting debut in 2014.

She also got involved in pro wrestling when she appeared as the ring girl at "Rumble For The Kids," a charity wrestling event in Illinois.  She became a valet for one of the wrestlers.

A lot of her acting is in horror movies, but she isn;t limited to just that genre.  Among her other projects, Morris did a trailer for our old friend John Borowski.

Morris has adopted the "Portia Chellelynn name as her business name.  She has several projects in various stages of development.  You'll be seeing a lot of her in 2017.

You can also see her at most Days of the Dead conventions.  Pay attention though, because she can be a blond, brunette or otherwise.  No matter what, she is beautiful, funny and very fan-friendly.  You can also follow her at Portia Chellelynn on twitter.

Michelle Morris and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2015.

Cards That Never Were: Craig Robinson Topps 1978

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players that did not have one in specific years.  It is a concept I have borrowed from too many to list, but I thanjk them all for their creativity.

Craig Robinson made his major league debut for the Philadelphia Phillie in 1972.  He made his Topps debut in the 1974 set and also appeard in the 1974 Traded set, after he was sent to the Atlanta Braves.  He appeared in the 1975 Topps set, but was not seen again in a Topps set.

His first season in 1972 produced 16 plate appearances and did not earn a Topps card.  He then had his streak of three cards in two years.  In 1975, with the Atlanta Braves and San Francisco Giants, he hit .065 in 49 plate appearances.In 1976, with the Giants and back with the Braves, he hit .267 in 40 plate appearances.  In 1977, in 30 plate appearances with the Braves, he hit .207.  Those years did not earn him a Topps card.

Pictures of Robinson are hard to find.  I managed to get one decent picture and I decided to make a career recapper card for him for the 1978 set.

If any of my talented fellow card creating bloggers can make one of him for 1973, 1976 or 1977, I'd love to see any.  Until then, I'll settle for this 1978 card I created.

Jerry Lawler Loves Johngy's Beat

When you create a wrestling comic as good as Headlocked, you get to hang around wrestlers as good as Jerry "The King" Lawler.  Such is the case of Michael Kingston, the very, talented creator of Headlocked, a wrestling comic series about wrestling!

I make the distinction that it is about wrestling, because that was the genesis of the Headlocked series.  Kingston was tired of "wrestling" comics only being minimally about wrestling.  He solved his own problem with the creation of Headlocked and it has been picking up support ever since.

Enter Lawler, who signed on early on to be the permanent cover artist.  Lawler has accompanied Kingston to many promotional events, such as the recent C2E2, where I had the pleasure of interviewing Kingston.

You can watch that interview at On the Beat With Michael Kingston.  Check out HeadlockedComic.com for more info and updates.  Also follow Headlocked on Facebook and Headlocked on twitter.

Lawler doesn't just support Kingston and Headlocked.  He supports Johngy's Beat and so does Kingston.  They were kind enough to do a promo vdeo for the Beat.

Thank you to Lawler and Kingston for their time and consideration.  Than you to C2E2 for always granting me extra access.

Happy Birthday Laura

Today I am celebrating my niece Laura Fitzpatrick's 30th birthday.  It's cliche to say that I cannot believe how time flies, but I can't believe this little one is 30!

I remember my sister Nancy telling me she was pregnant when we rode the train downtown together.  I watched Nancy's belly grow and then little Pooky was born.  My first niece was here.  How cool was that?!

I can only blame myself for missing too much of Laura's childhood, but I will always cherish the memories of helping her with a couple long moves.  Driving 800 miles in a cramped vehicle will certainly create long-lasting memories (and jokes).

Laura definitely marches to her own drummer.  She's smart, opinionated, funny and she has pretty good taste in music!  Unfortunately, I can't say she's a great kid anymore, but she's a great adult!  (Ha Laura...you're an adult...deal with that!).

I love you Laura and wish you a great 30th birthday.  I figured a picture with your beloved Marley would be appropriate for here!

Laura Fitzpatrick and Marley in Illinois-April 2017.

Friendly Encounters: Kam Chancellor, Kim Perez and Dominique Collins

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

The people in the photo below have seven league titles.  Kim Perez and Dominique Collins have three each with the three time Legends Football Lague champion Chicago Bliss, while Kam Chancellor has one with the NFL 2013 champ Seattle Seahawks.  All three people also play safety for their respective teams.
All three are champs and all three are stars.  All three are also feared hard hitters.  Pound for pound, I might tyake Kim and DC over Kam.  Anyone, who thinks thes ladies are just eye candy on a field, has never seen these ladies hit.  They are fierce.  I am sure they even earned the respect of Kam when he attended their game in Seattle against the Mist.
Anyway you look at it, there is a lot of talent in that picture.   don't know Kam, but if he is half as nice as Kim and DC, he'd be a pretty cool guy.
The Chicago Bliss currently stand at 1-0 after thrashing the Denver Dream 93-6.  Their next game is Saturday, June 3 against the tough Atlanta Steam.  This is one you don't want to miss.
You can check out Kim, DC and the rest of the Chicago Bliss at LFLUS.com.  Better yet, go to a game and see how tough these ladies are on the field and how sweet they are off the field.

Kim Perez, Kam Chancellor and Dominique Collins in Kent, WA-August 2016.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #322 Richard Crenna & Dan Dailey

This is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. We continue to work our way alphabetically through Major League Baseball.

Actor Richard Crenna was born in Los Angeles, CA, but he earned his Celebrity Jersey Cardby donning the uniform of the St. Louis Cardinals for his role as Paul Dean in The Pride of St. Louis.  Paul was the younger and less successful brother of Dizzy Dean, the main focus of the movie.  Crenna's career spanned over 60 years.  He is joined by his co-stars Dan Dailey and Joanne Dru (sister of Peter Marshall and aunt of former player Pete LaCock).  Crenna passed away in 2003.

Dan Dailey was born in New York and was in entertainment most of his life.  He earns a solo appearance on his Celebrity Jersey Card, but also from The Pride of St. Louis.  Dailey earned rave reviews for his performance as Hall of Fame pitcher Dizzy Dean.  Unfortunately, Dailey passed away in 1978 at the relatively young age of 62.

Cards That Never Were: Bill Bennett Topps 1979-80 & 1980-81

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual cards for players missing from the real sets of those years.  It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many to list, but I thank all of them.

I have always been fascinated by sports relations.  One of the biggest hockey families is the Bennett family.

Harvey Bennett Sr. played 25 games in goal for the Boston Bruins.  Five of his sons played pro hockey.  John played in the WHA.  Jimmy played in the International Hockey League after being drafted by the Atlanta Flames.  Harvey Jr. and Curt had lengthy careers in the NHL.  Bill played two seasons with the Bruins and the Hartford Whalers.

Bill played 31 games and scored 4 goals.  He did not appear on any major brand hockey cards.  Hockey sets usually had about 10 players from each team.  Obviously, Bill's stints in the NHL did not merit a card, but that doesn't stop me from wanting and creating one (or two).

I like the Bruins card a bit better, as it looks like an actual card.  The Whalers card depicts a posed photo from a Whalers team issued postcard.  It looks okay and serves the purpose though, especially since pictures of him in the NHL are hard to find.

Christian Mangle of the Windy City Rollers 2017

The Windy City Rollers will be back in action on Saturday, May 20 at the Broadway Armory.  The Windy City Rollers All-Stars and Second Wind will be taking on the Mad Rollin Dolls Dairyland Dolls A and B teams respectively in the WCR second home bout of the season.

Most recently, the All-Stars beat the Tornado Sirens 188-119 in Naptown, IN, while Second Wind is coming off a 241-66 win against the Warning Belles.  Both WCR teams are jam (no pun intended) packed with exciting athletes.

The last time I saw the WCR at the Armory earlier this year, I caught up with old favorite Christian Mangle.  The talented Mangle wears #2 for Hell's Belles, but she is #1 in the hearts of many fans, including me.  Okay, maybe she is tied for #1, but only because the ladies of the WCR are simply awesome.

These women practice many nights to be ready for a handful of bouts every year.  On bout night, despite the grueling effort it takes to compete for a full game, the lady athletes always mingle with their fans.

Our friend Mangle was just one example.  Look at that smile (hers, not mine).  She just finished a tough game of getting slammed, pushed, blocked and more, not to mention the skating sprints.  Still, she took the time to talk to fans and pose for pictures (and not just with this reporter).  She did all of that with that smile.

That smile is seen on many pretty much all of the skaters.  They seem to really have fun out there.  Make no mistake though.  These ladies compete, whether it is within the WCR or against other teams.  That competitive edge doesn't prevent them from having a blast though.  It also helps the fans enjoy the night, as smiles are contagious, especially around the WCR.

Speaking of their fans, there is quite a wide array of fans.  The crowd is comprised of kids and adults (couples and singles).  All are there for fun and all walk away satisfied.  The crowd can get rowdy, as they support their favorite skater or team.  It seems the rowdier the crowd is, the harder the skaters play (or maybe it is the other way around).  Either way, the fans are into it as much as the athletes.

I often say that I went to my first WCR event years ago as something different.  I didn't realize that I would enjoy it so much that I would keep going back every time I could.

Christian Mangle and me in Chicago, IL-February 2017.

Visiting The Las Vegas 51's and Cashman Field

Last week, while in Las Vegas, we were privileged to be granted press credentials for a game between the Las Vegas 51's and the Tacoma Rainiers.  The teams are the Triple A affiliates of the New York Mets and the Seattle Mariners, respectively.  My recap of the experience can be found on the Nevada Patch at On the Beat With the Las Vegas 51's.

I think the thing that struck me the most was the beauty of the tranquility and serenity of a night at Cashman Field just minutes away from the glitz and glamour of the Strip.  They are polar opposites.

In my younger days, I did not appreciate minor league baseball.  I only wanted the "real" baseball of the Major Leagues.  As I have gotten older, I have grown to appreciate all sorts of baseball.  Minor league ball even has some benefits that the MLB is missing.

Cashman Field was built in 1983.  It is one of the oldest minor league fields and certainly would be older than most Major League parks, too.  While it is missing some of the modern day amenities, it retains the warmth and feel of baseball of my youth.  I don't need a dozen distractions at a game.  I need a comfortable seat, good sightlines, scenic park and little else.  Cashman Field met and surpassed those needs.

I opted to go to a game for the experience.  I so loved that experience that I will be making a ballgame part of any trip during the baseball season.

Some of the fun is natural.  It's a beautiful park.  The weather is usually near perfect.  It's a short drive away from the casinos, but it is worlds away in theory.

Some of the fun was aided by the wonderful staff at Cashman Field.  From Media Rep Jim Gemma to every staffer there, the organization could not have been friendlier or more helpful.  Lest you think their gestures were only aimed at a visiting journalist, I saw many examples of workers going above and beyond the call of duty to help fans.

Thank you to Global Traveler magazine and the Nevada Patch for this opportunity.  Thank you to the Las Vegas 51's organization for their hospitality.

Hassan and me in Las Vegas, NV-May 2017.

Jay Fife at Motor City Comic Con 2016

Jay Fife is one of my regular stops on the comic con scene.  He is a pin-up and portrait artist, focusing on all aspects of horror, fantasy, sci-fi and comics.  Among other talents, he is popular for his custom works.  He also does a lot of creations involving personalities from TV and movies.

Working mostly with pencil, Jay somehow makes even the simplest drawing appear very lifelike.  He is a master at making the images come alive.  His renderings range from old school Julie Newmar Catwoman to recent image Joker and everything in between.  He isn;t limited to just that area though.  He has also done a wide range of subjects, including a beautiful Jackie Robinson commission.

You can check out some of his work at ComicArtFans.com.  You can also follow him on his Jay E. Fife Illustration Facebook page.  He regularly posts his comic con schedule and other important updates and info.

Jay Fife and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

Brenda Strong at Motor City Comic Con 2016

I credit the eagle eye of Cuzz Gekas for spotting and recognizing Brenda Strong at the Motor City Comic Con last year.  While she might be best known for her role on television's Desperate Housewives, it was her portrayal of Sue Ellen Miscke on Seinfeld which put her on our radar.  I've met a few Seinfeld characters, including Lee Arenberg at an earlier MCCC.

As we walked through "Celebrity Alley," Cuzz spotted "the braless wonder," as she was called on Seinfeld.  I had to add Strong to my Seinfeld collection.

Strong has a lengthy resume going back to a role on tv's St. Elsewhere.  She's had regular roles on such shows as Party of Five, 7th Heaven and Twin Peaks, just to name a few.

I'm sure other fans asked about her many other roles, but Cuzz and I focused on her Seinfeld part.  Strong was really sweet and went along with our Seinfeld questions.  She even went the extra step in the photo by emerging from her booth.  That little gesture goes a long way in memories of meeting celebrities.

Recently, you could see Strong on tv's Supergirl, where she plays Lillian Luthor.  She also has a couple other projects in various stages of development.

You can follow Brenda Strong on twitter.  She is pretty active there, posting fun pictures and updates.

Cuzz Gekas, Brenda Strong and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Nicolai Volkoff and John Crowther

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

One of the great parts of doing Johngy's Beat is the friends who I make from it.  Last week, I featured Jason Strecker here.  This week, I continue the story with John Crowther, whom I met through Jason.
According to his bio, John is "a small town southern lawyer by day and storyteller by night."  He turned professional storyteller in 2014, when he entered the world of comics.
After the success of the Rochelle: The Teen Cockroach series, he tackled the world of professional wrestling.  He is the writer and co- creator of the Nikolai Volkoff series.
A pro wrestling veteran of 50 years, Volkoff (Josip Peruzovic) is best known for his years in the WWE (then WWWF/WWF), including a tag team championship (with The Iron Sheik) and a Hall of Fame induction in 2005.  The series is based upon true stories as related by Volkoff.
The Nikolai Volkoff Kickstarter campaign officially ends tomorrow.  While they have already reached their goal, donations are still welcomed and there is even an incentive system for various levels of donations.
I asked John about the future of the Nikolai series and other wrestling comics.  He responded with:

"I am also working on projects for The Killer Bees (Brian Blair and Jim Brunzell). Issue #1 of that series launches on Kickstarter on June 18. Also in the works are a one-shot for Lanny Poffo and a miniseries for Bobby Fulton on him and The Fantastics.  I am not planning another NIkolai in the near future, although he will be appearing at Mississippi Comic Con on the weekend of June 24."

That's all great news.  Wrestler biographies in comic book form sounds like a winner to me.  I'm especially happy with his subjects so far.  Volkoff, Poffo, the Bees and the Fantastics all had great careers, but very little has been done on them.  I look forward to those projects as well as other stuff from John in the future.
Someday, I hope to meet John at one of his appearances.  Chicago is a hotbed for wrestling and comics, too.  I think a Chicago convention appearance by John and one of his wrestler subjects would be awesome.
You can get more info, including all of the updates, at the Nikolai Volkoff: The Comic Series page on Facebook.  You can also check out all of John's work at RochelleTheTeenCockroach.com.

John Crowther and Nikolai Volkoff in Daytona Beach, FL-April 2017.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #321 Tom Bosley & Marion Ross

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys.  Today, we continue working our way alphabetically through Major League Baseball.

Actor Tom Bosley was born in Chicago, IL, a fact which earned some playful booing when he was introduced at Miller Park on Happy Days Day.  Unfortunately, the man who portrayed the beloved Mr. C. on the throwback television series died in 2010.  His lengthy career allows us to go way back for his Celebrity Jersey Card.

 Actress Marion Ross might be best known for playing opposite Bosley as Mrs. C. on Happy Days.  Like Bosley, her career stretches way back, allowing us to do another classic Celebrity Jersey Card.  Fortunately, as of this writing, Ross is still alive and well at the age of 88.

Mike Bocianowski at Motor City Comic Con 2016

Mike Bocianowski is one of the more interesting creators I have met at any comic con.  He is an artist, writer and creator.  His works focus on story-telling featuring family values, morals, ethics and all things good.

Two things that Mike dislikes are creations filled with violence, sex and other non-family oriented action and rehashing old works into new works.  Mike does neither.

Along those lines, Mike has created Yets!, an incredible world inhabited by a talking Guinea Pig, a feisty dog and a civilization which hasn't named itself yet (but I've been told not to call them dragons).  Yets! and Mike have garnered tremendous praise 

In a world which seems to increasingly tend towards the R-rated material, Mike is a refreshing change of pace.  I have nothing against racier material, but it's good to see quality work aimed at the younger audience or at least art which gives a different perspective.

You can get more info and updates at ArtistMB.com and the Yets! blog.  Of course, the best place to learn more about any artist is a comic con.  

Mike Bocianowski and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

Dawn McTeigue at Motor City Comic Con 2016

I first ran into Dawn McTeigue at the Motor City Comic Con.  Dawn is a comic book cover and interior artist.  She is the lead artist on JP Roth's (another of our favorites) Southern Nightgown.  She has also done cover work for many others including Aspen Comics, Lady Death, Bluerainbow Online, Big Dog Ink and the Rothic Novel collections.

A resident of Calgary, Dawn incorporated hockey into Team Canada Red, one of my favorite works of hers.  Whether her creations are cover art, series art or stand-alone, they are fantastic.

You can see more of Dawn's artwork and updates on DawnMcTeigue.com, Dawn McTeigue Art on Facebook, Dawn McTeigue on twitter and the Dawn-McTeigue Deviant Art site. She also attends many of North America's largest comic conventions.

Dawn McTeigue and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

Alex Breckenridge at Motor City Comic Con 2016

At the last Motor City Comic Con, Cuzz Gekas and I had the pleasure of meeting Alex Breckenridge.  An accomplished actress, Breckenridge is probably most known for her role on tv's The Walking Dead.

I always say that one role (any role) on a franchise like TWD will set you for a long time on the comic con circuit.  Twenty years after Seinfeld left the air, one-episode characters are still going strong at cons.  TWD actors are already experiencing that demand and it should continue for years to come.

Breckenridge was happy to discuss TWD, but we talked more about her interest in photography.  She had her first exhibit in 2008.  Through her photgraphy, she hopes to "evoke feeling and to inspire."

Her cityscapes are breathtaking.  They range from artistic to beautiful to haunting.  All are simply wonderful though.  I went to her site to get a quick peak and ended up spending a lot of time just getting lost in her visions.

It's too bad that the comic con isn't conducive to showing her photographic skills.  Her work is quite beautiful, but booth space and the rabid nature of TWD fans don't really allow much room for her photography.

You can learn more about her photography at AlexandraBreckenridge.com.  You can also follow Breckenridge on twitter.

Cuzz Gekas, Alex Breckenridge and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

Arn Anderson at Motor City Comic Con 2016

The Motor City Comic Con has a history of adding wrestlers to their celebrity guest lineup.  Last year, the MCCC had their greatest wrestling combination ever with arguably the best version of the Four Horsemen.

Headliner Ric Flair was joined by Arn Anderson, Tully Blanchard, Barry Windham and JJ Dillon.  I had previously met all of them individually, except for Anderson.  Aside from getting a group shot, I was excited about meeting AA.

Anderson is one of the greatest wrestlers to never hold the heavyweight title in the main companies.  He carved out his legendary career as "The Enforcer," his nickname and his role in the Horsemen.  Anderson had been on my "want" list for years.  Thanks to the fine folks at MCCC, I was able to finally meet Anderson.

Despite being swamped by a huge line of fans, Anderson was very relaxed and gave each a special moment.  "Okay, let's throw it up there," he saidas I approached him.  I knew immediately that he meant to raise the four fingers, the famous salute of the Horsemen.  Of course, I complied.  Joining Anderson in a Horsemen salute is a wrestling fan's dream.

Anderson talked a bit about being by Flair's side for most of their careers.  He also talked about working as an agent for the WWE and helping future stars develop in and out of the ring.  Anderson was one of the best talkers in wrestling.  He didn't say much, nor did he yell, but his promos were killer.

This year, the MCCC is bringing in Sting, another legendary wrestler.  Anderson and the Horsemen had historic battles with Sting over the many years they worked in WCW together.  Those are my "golden years" of wrestling.

I thank Anderson for his time.  I thank the MCCC for their hospitality and for bringing in great guests.  I look forward to this year's MCCC.  For more info, including this year's guest lineup, check out MotorCityComicCon.com.

Arn Anderson and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

Cards That Never Were: Ernie DiGregorio Topps 1978-79

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players who were missing in various sets.  It is a concept I have borrowed from too many to list, but I appreciate all of them.
Ernie DiGregorio was selected by the Buffalo Braves (now the Los Angeles Clippers) third overall in the 1973 NBA draft.  Despite being listed at 6'0". Ernie D was a major star at Providence and looked to have a bright future in the NBA.
His rookie season of 1973-74 was excellent.  He averaged 15.2 points per game and still holds the NBA rookie record for assists in a single game with 25 (a record now shared with Nate McMillan).
After four seasons with the Braves, he was traded to the Los Angeles Lakers.  After only 25 games, the Lakers waived him and the Boston Celtics signed him.  He appeared in 27 games with the Celtics ending his NBA career.
Topps issued cards for him from 1974-'75 through '77-'78.  He did not receive a card in the 1978-'79 set.  Since DiGregorio was one of my favorite players growing up, I had to correct this.  Although not many pictures of him exist with the Celtics (even fewer exist of him with the Lakers), I was able to make a decent card that never was for him.

Friendly Encounters: Nikolai Volkoff and Jason Strecker

Friendly Encounters is a weekly feature about friends who have met celebrities.

I have never met Jason Strecker, but we recently connected online.  We share an interest in wrestling and he has a very cool story and an awesome connection to wrestling.  I'll let Jason take it from here:

"I am friends with WWE Hall of Famers Nikolai Volkoff and Jimmy Valiant. It was Jimmy Valiant, who originally brought Nikolai and myself together, knowing we both live in the Baltimore County area of Maryland. I attend east coast autograph signing conventions with Nikolai and help him set up his table and take photo ops with the fans.  A few years ago, I sold a few of his ring worn pieces of memorabilia on ebay, including one of his famous Russian Bolshevik hats, a pair of red Russian boots, black boots he wore during his feud with Bruno Sammartino and the most popular wound up being his black "cent" shirt he wore when working with Ted Dibiase.
Most recently, I have been proud to have a small part in helping bring about "Nikolai Volkoff the Comic Book Series." During many of our personal discussions, Nikolai had expressed interest in having his life and pro wrestling story told via comic book form. The comic book series is a three part series written by comic book writer John Crowther, another long time wrestling fan, I introduced John to Nikolai knowing John would be the perfect person to make Nikolai's comic book dream come true. Nikolai's comic has been trending highly through the kickstarter program where fans can pledge money towards funding the comic, in exchange for great incentives such as autographs, toys, cards, t-shirts and even a personal phone chat with Nikolai.
Nikolai is a legend from what many call the 'glory days' of wrestling, the 1970s, 80s and 90s and he still is active on the independent wrestling show and autograph signing circuit. Fans looking to book Nikolai may contact me through email wresjay@hotmail or my ebay ID (colmashfan). Fans can also check out facebook page Nikolai Volkoff: The Comic Book Series for all the information about this great comic book and fans will soon be introduced on this site to writer John Crowther, who is set to work on several other wrestler related comic books along with Nikolai's!"

I want to thank Jason for reaching out to me.  I am always happy to meet fellow fans of the golden days of wrestling.  I am also always happy to spread the word on great projects like Nikolai Volkoff: The Comic Book Series.
Volkoff had a very interesting career.  He spent much of it as a hated heel, but turned to the good side late in his career.  He is still much beloved by fans, despite being out of a WWE for many years.  Anyone wanting to support this cause and jump on the bandwagon now can head to the Nikolai Volkoff - Life & Times of a Pro Wrestling Superstar Kickstarter page.
I will continue to follow the progress of this series.  I hope to one day meet Volkoff, Crowther and Jason.

Nikolai Volkoff and Jason Strecker in Glen Burnie, Maryland-2013.