Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring my friends who have met celebrities.
I first met Mark Pandocchi at a Chicago Bandits game. A staunch fan of the team, Mark is an original member of Bandit Nation. He is also very active promoting the team on Facebook and helping to coordinate tailgate parties at the Ballpark in Rosemont.
Mark is a good guy and exactly the type of fan you'd want. He continually supports the team and is a friend to all at the Ballpark. He often shares my interviews and I appreciate that greatly. It's fans like Mark who have accepted and embraced me into Bandit Nation, who make this such a wonderful experience.
The picture below is from a banquet the Bandits had in 2015. It was cool to see the ladies in regular wear, as opposed to the uniforms for a change. It was also good to see Mark spiffing up for the event.
He picked a couple pretty good players to sandwich him in the picture. Tammy and Amber were two great players who retired after the 2015 season. Tammy at shortstop and Amber at third base handled the left side of the infield t perfection. It was always a pleasure watching (and knowing) these two great lady athletes.
It's a bit unusual seeing Mark not wearing Bandits gear, but it's always good to see him. There are still several games left and I am sure I will see him at the Ballpark again this season.
Tammy Williams, Mark Panocchi and Amber Patton in Chicago, IL-August 2015.
The National Sports Collectors Convention is the premier event in the sports collectibles industry. I have attended several as a collector, but this weekend, I attended as a member of the media. My full account of the weekend is on Patch.com at On the Beat at the National.
After receiving my press credentials, I learned I could interview Topps Marketing Communications Manager Susan Lulgjuraj. It was several hours later when it finally hit me that I would be talking to Sooz.
I have followed Sooz for many years, as she is well-known in the collectors and sports media worlds. I have tried on a few other occasions to interview (or even meet) Sooz, but scheduling prohibited it until now. I was now really looking forward to the National more than ever.
My interview was about 5 minutes, but I could have talked to Sooz for a few hours (not that she would have liked that). She is such an inspiration and role model for collectors and wanna-be writers like myself.
I asked her about her passion for cards, her favorite sets and cards, the current high of the industry, custom cards and more. I ended by asking her if she would ever be on a card and I was pleasantly surprised when she said she was on one this year.
Of course, she has a card. She's Sooz!
In the evening Topps meet-and-greet, the Topps executives fielded questions, suggestions, praise and complaints. Sooz was there capturing it all. She also garnered quite a round of applause. Sooz is very popular with collectors.
I really appreciate Sooz for giving me her time and consideration. The National is crazy busy, but she took time to answer my questions. It really was fun finally meeting her.
Our continuing coverage of National Pro Fastpitch and the Chicago Bandits bring us to former Coach Michael Steuerwald. Like with the other former Chicago Bandits, it was strange, sad and great to see Coach Stu wearing the red of the Scrapyard Dawgs at the Ballpark in Rosemont.
Coach Stu did great things on an off the field here in Chicago. The Bandits won the NPF title three times during his years here. The Bandits also reached the championship series twice.
In addition to coaching the Bandits, he started "Coach's Corner" to raise money to get tickets to kids and underprivileged. I have seen the joy on the faces of so many who would never have been able to see a game. It was a wonderful program.
During the last offseason, as the Bandits underwent a big transition, Coach Stu stepped down and later became Assistant GM with the Dawgs. With no disrespect to anyone, it was a big disappointment to see this transpire.
Life goes on though. Sharonda McDonald is the new manager for the Bandits and Coach Stu is embracing his new position with he Dawgs with no bitterness. Of course, I expected nothing less from him, as he is a class act.
Coach Stu does have some familiar faces with the Dawgs. Former Bandits Monica Abbott, Brittany Cervantes, Amanda Kamekona, Morgan Foley and Taylor Edwards all found their way to The Woodlands.
At the time of this writing, the Dawgs are solidly in 2nd place in the NPF. There are still about 15 games to play, but the Dawgs look to be a safe bet to make the playoffs.
I had the pleasure of interviewing Coach Stu in the dugout before game three of their recent series here. The Dawgs took the first 2, but would go on to lose the final game after our interview. Still, it was a successful series for the Dawgs.
I talked to Coach Stu about being on the other side, his thoughts on Houston, his highlights from his Chicago years, playing against his former team (the Bandits) and against his former coach (Roman Foore with the Texas Charge) and other fun topics. It was a bittersweet interview.
I want to publicly thank Coach Stu for all he did with the Bandits and in the community. I also want to thank him for always treating me well, for always having time to chat and for being a friend! It was a great experience covering his teams. It was great to see him and I have to even admit, he looks good in red.
I sometimes have trouble recognizing people, even when I am looking for them. It's usually my fault, but with AZ Powergirl Cara Nicole, it isn't all my fault.
She is a cosplaying queen. She is chameleon-like in that she can look totally different depending on her intent. I have met her in several of her incarnations and she is always stunning, even if I don't realize right away that it is her.
She has made cosplay an art form. With books, videos, tv and radio appearances and more, she has become a world-wide cosplay sensation. She has done it all in the world of cosplay.
Her talent doesn't end with her cosplay though. She is an actress, singer, comic book writer, convention host and more.
I have seen Cara at several conventions. Her booth features her prints, videos and other merchandise. The best part is that you also get to meet Cara.
She is very fan-friendly and funny. You almost forget that she is also beautiful. She's just fun at her booth and everyone has a good time there.
The back-to-back reigning National Pro Fastpitch champion Chicago Bandits underwent a big transition in the last offseason. Sharonda McDonald took the manager's job.
It is a great job and Sharonda was a very nice hire, but she did inherit an unenviable position. Repeating in any sport is difficult. Three-peating is even harder, let alone attempting to do so in this situation is nearly impossible.
Coach Sharonda did not inherit the two-time defending champs as is. About 40% of the team left through trade, free agent signing or retirement. The Bandits did gain the "Aussie Elite Eight," eight Australian players, but how they would fare was to be determined. Sharonda certainly had her hands full, but it was also a chance to really make her mark quickly.
Sharonda has an impressive resume. She was a three-time all-NPF selection during her six-year career in the NPF and had a .270 career batting average. After retiring as a player, Sharonda became an assistant at the University of Florida.
As of this writing, the Bandits are in a virtual three-way tie for 3rd place. Only two of these three teams will make the playoffs. Despite winning the NPF title last year, the Bandits were not a powerhouse during the season. Right now, all that matters is reaching the playoffs and Sharonda has the team in position to reach that goal.
I have not interviewed Sharonda yet, but I really am looking forward to it. I have been impressed with what the team has done and how they have handled everything. All things considered, it has been a successful season so far and hopefully it will keep getting better.
Sharonda McDonald and me in Rosemont,IL-July 2017.
As I wrote yesterday, in covering the Chicago Bandits and the National Pro Fastpitch, I have met a lot of world-class athletes and outstanding people. With the Scrapyard Dawgs in town, one tall, lanky pitcher brings back great memories.
After starring at the University of Tennessee, Monica Abbott pitched for Team USA in 2006, before joining the NPF in 2007. She pitched for 3 teams over 3 seasons before joining the Bandits, where she worked her magic for 5 seasons. After the 2015 season, Monica signed a huge contract with the Dawgs.
Monica is truly one of the greatest softball pitchers of all time. She is 192-39 with an ERA of 1.03 during her NPF career. Those numbers are staggering. She allows just over a run per game.
It is no stretch to say she is like Michael Jordan or Wayne Gretzky. Maybe fellow Tennessee alum Peyton Manning would be a better comparison. It is a real pleasure watching her pitch. Her abilities are off the charts, but I also like the way she thinks and competes. You can see her mind working as she pitches. Monica is a bulldog.
Fans loved her here and justifiably so. Aside from her stats, Monica was always good with the fans, too. Even though she was in high demand, she always had time for my interviews and I am grateful for that.
More than grateful, I am actually in awe sometimes that I interviewed Monica. Anytime I interview someone of Monica's stature, it always is one for the resume.
These kind of elite athletes do not come around often. To have one in Chicago, one that I covered, will always be one of my favorite experiences. It is still sad to see her in the red of the Dawgs, but it is always a thrill watching her pitch.
Over the years, I have met a lot of elite athletes in National Pro Fastpitch. Better than that, I have met some really great people. Taylor Edwards is fits both categories.
Taylor starred at the University of Nebraska. She was teammates with her twin sister Tatum. Together they started their NPF career with the Pennsylvania Rebellion. After their rookie season, they were traded to the Chicago Bandits, where they played for 2 seasons. In the last offseason, Taylor was traded to the Scrapyard (Houston) Dawgs (and Tatum retired).
I really loved watching Taylor play. She was a thumper on offense, solid behind the plate and wonderful off the field. She hit .242 and .353 in her two seasons here, with 19 home runs and 63 rbi's.
Off the field, she was always a great interview. She was also good for chatter around the field. I will always remember her as the catcher for my infamous one at bat against the Bandits. She tried to give me advice, for which I am grateful, even though I had no chance.
The Dawgs are in town for a series with the Bandits. I look forward to seeing Taylor, even if she is wearing the wrong colors. I'm sure she will get a nice ovation when she is announced. Taylor was a big part of 2 NPF titles here and she deserves all the love from Bandit Nation.
Welcome back Taylor, even if it is just a visit. Thank you for all you did here!
Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.
I first met Gabe Baron at the debut show for Resistance Pro several years back. From that first day, Gabe made me feel like part of the RPro family and I have enjoyed knowing him, his family and the entire RPro gang.
Gabe is a great friend. I admire his family dedication and his overall attitude. If you are lucky enough to be Facebook friend with Gabe, you will see many pictures of his wife and two daughters. I always get a warm feeling when I see these pictures. They are so loving. He represents everything you'd want out of life.
Oh sure, he has a quick and often offbeat wit, but that just adds to the experience of knowing him. He also has an affinity for sitcoms from the 1970's, but that's right up my alley, too. It would be a blast to watch a '70's sitcom marathon with him.
Gabe and his brother Jacques have been to many Days of the Dead events in Schaumburg, IL. At the 2014 DotD, he met Chris Sarandon, the voice of Jack Skellington among other acting roles.
I know Gabe loves meeting his favorites at these events. I have had the pleasure of facilitating a few photo opportunities for Gabe and I couldn't have been happier to do it for him.
I truly like and respect Gabe and I am proud to call him a friend. I'm loking forward to seeing him (and some celebs) at the next convention.
Gabe Baron and Chris Sarandon in Schaumburg, IL-November 2014.
Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for jersey-clad celebrities. Today, we continue to work our way alphabetically through Major League Baseball.
Actor Ed Harris was born in Englewood, NJ. He was nominated for an Academy Award for Best Actor for his role in Pollock and is a three-time nominee of the Academy Award for Best Supporting Actor.Harris gets extra points for wearing an Orioles cap on his Celebrity Jersey Card.
Actor Kevin Spacey was born in South Organe, NJ, but now resides in London. He won an Academy Award for Best Actor and another one for Best Supporting Actor. Like Harris, he gets extra points for wearing an Orioles cap on his Celebrity Jersey Card. Also, Orioles Manager Buck Showalter is behind him in this dugout shot.
Max and Blair were a super couple for a long time on television's One Life to Live. The chemistry was real, too, as the onscreen couple became a couple offscreen, too.
I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Kassie DePaiva last year. She was such a sweetheart, going above and beyond to make sure I got the interview.
This year, when I saw James DePaiva was going to be at REWind Con, I made him one of my main targets for an interview. I am happy to report that he was just as nice as Kassie (although I won't call him a sweetheart).
It is one thing for a celebrity to be nice "on the job" at events like these, but both Kassie and James were awesome "offduty" there, too. I ran into James early Sunday morning and he came up to me to talk about OLTL, the convention, Kassie and more. It was surreal and cool. James is really a nice guy.
Having watched both for years on OLTL, it was odd actually talking to them. Moments like those are hard to explain. For a few brief moments, I am not just a fan, but an actual reporter covering and interacting with two longtime favorite actors. Having them both be so friendly really makes it a wonderful experience.
I have written many times about Felissa Rose. The star of the cult classic Sleepaway Camp is a lovely ball of energy every time I see her.
Felissa is always ready with several pictures, dvd's, posters and other fun stuff for sale at Days of the Dead. She is also generous withs laughs, funny stories, hugs and a scream or two. She is simply a clast and a real sweetheart.
The next time I will see Felissa is next Friday at Days of the Dead in Schaumburg, IL. I encourage everyone to get out to this great con. For more info on Days, check out DaysoftheDead.net.
Felissa Rose and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2015.
Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for jersey-clad celebrities. Today, we continue to work our way alphabetically through Major League Baseball.
Five-time Olympic gold medalist and nine-time world champion Katie Ledecky was born in Washington, D.C. Staying true to her roots, she has made multiple appearances at Nationals Park, one of which landed her on a Celebrity Jersey Card. Since her uncle John owns the New York Islanders, maybe we wil see her repping the Islanders someday.
Paul Wight was born in Aiken, SC, but rose to fame as The Giant in pro wrestling. He later switched to The Big Show. He's won many titles in his 20+ years in the ring. I think he is probably the biggest person yet on a Celebrity Jersey Card.
As Wizard World nears, I recall one of the most fun interviews I have had there. It featured actor Barry Bostwick. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Barry Bostwick #2.
First, you'll notice it is #2, which means there was a #1. That first one belongs to Scottie "WonderBoy" Steiner. Scott, who joined the Johngy's Beat crew for Wizard World last year, was a huge fan of The Rocky Horror Picture Show. I made sure that Scottie got to interview Bostwick at the Press Reception. It was a thrill for Scottie and I loved being able to do that for him.
Besides that, my interview and interaction with Bostwick was just amusing to me. I first met him in Indianapolis a few years back. We joked a bit back then and he remembered me at the Press event.
Even sillier is how the interview starts. We fluff our hair together, at his suggestion. Why not? It's Barry Bostwick, afterall!!
It's memories like these which make me really love what I do. Thank you to Scottie, Barry and the fine folks at Wizard World.
Barry Bostwick and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2015.
Last weekend, I went to the CSW show to see Chazz Moretti (Agent to the Stars). It's always a fun show if the head of the Moretti Agency is involved. By the end of the night, the Moretti Agency had grown and I saw some old school wrestling action.
The Moretti Agency is a worldwide conglomeration of talent. It's three latest acquisitions were revealed Saturday night to be Stormie Lee, Francisco Ciatso and Eric Wayne. Lee won her match against the legendary Malia Hosaka and the team of Ciatso and Waye also came out victorious. Of course, Moretti himself had a hand (literally) in those victories, but there was also no denying the level of talent these wrestlers had.
Among the many highlights was Wayne utilizing a fireball. It was shades of Eddie Gilbert as the fireball exploded on his opponent. It was actually the first fireball I had seen in person.
After the night of action, I was able to get Wayne for an interview. I asked him about his wrestling beginnings, his wrestling influences, his dream match and more. Wayne was kind enough to answer all of my questions. For a wrestler who just destroyed his opponents and joined the Moretti Agency, Wayne showed a bit of another side of him in being thoughtful and reflective. I appreciated his time and consideration.
Don't let the few minutes of sanity fool you. Wayne turned on me after the interview with a vicious choke hold. Fortunately, because the Moretti Agency was in a rush to celebrate, Wayne let me go before I was choked out.
He did prove that he can be ruthless in the ring, but still be professional during the interview. It's actually a good example to set for other wrestlers. Then again maybe it was just an act to get more media coverage. With the Moretti Agency, you never know and are always guessing (and usually wrong).
I'm interested to see where the Moretti Agency goes from here. This was their first night together at CSW, but definitely not their last. Wayne might not have made the "clean" choice, but he did make the smart move in joining Moretti.
Friendly Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.
Today, we feature Chris Bejcek, but surprisingly, he isn't pictured with any of the Chicago Bandits. A cornerstone of Bandit Nation, Chris is also a big fan and friend of musician Bruce Hornsby.
Recently, Chris attended his 75th Hornsby concert. That's an impressive number. I haven't even attended that many total concerts. Over the years, Chris has even become friends with Hornsby. I can only imagine how cool and special that would be. I would love to meet my guy Billy Joel some day.
When he is not attending Hornsby concerts or hanging with him, Chris can usually be found at the Ballpark in Rosemont, cheering for the back-to-back reigning National Pro Fastpitch champion Bandits. Chris is one of several people very active on Facebook as part of Bandit Nation. I respect his passion for the team and I appreciate his support of Johngy's Beat.
Maybe one day, he can get Hornsby to stop by the Ballpark. Until then, we are just happy to have Chris there! It's fans like him that make the experience with the Bandits so great.
Chris Bejcek and Bruce Hornsby in Chicago, IL-June 2017.
This is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, we continue working our way alphabetically through MLB teams.
Violinist and conductor Itzhak Perlman was born in Tel Aviv (then British Mandate of Palestine, now Israel). Perlman now resides in New York. Perlman showed his hometown pride by donning the Mets jersey, while performing the National Anthem. I am guessing his #70 was for his age then and not as an homage to Wilfredo Tovar, but I could be wrong. Either way, it is the first appearance of a voilin on a Celebrity Jersey Card!
Born in Greenwich, CT, Glenn Close has made her mark as a singer, actress, producer and more. She has sung the National Anthem at Citi Field multiple times. Her Celebrity Jersey Card featurs one of her performances. Her connection to #94 is uncertain. No player for the Mets has ever worn #94, but Close wore it well.
We were back "On the Beat" with the WNBA Chicago Sky as they beat the Dallas Wings 90-84, to raise their record to 5-12 for the season. It was also their second consecutive victory.
Guard Allie Quigley led all scorers with 22 points, shooting 7-12 on field goal attempts and 5-9 from 3 point land. She was also 3-4 from the free throw line and had 6 assists and 1 rebound.
A native of Joliet, IL, Quigley starred at DePaul University before being selected by the Seattle Storm in the second round (22nd overall) in the 2008 WNBA Draft. The Storm released her prior to the season, but the Phoenix Mercury quickly signed her.
Quigley spent 2 seasons with the Mercury, then joined the Indiana Fever. In 2011, she found her way back to the Storm, where she played for 1 season. Quigley signed with the Sky in 2013 and has played here ever since.
She also played overseas during that span. She won the Turkish Super Cup in 2015 and the Turkish League in 2016. She also won the Turkish Cup in 2016 and was the MVP of the Turkish Cup.
This season, she has played in 14 games, averaging 16.4 points while playing over 31 minutes of action. She also adds 3 rebounds and 3 assists per game, while shooting over 45% from 3 point territory.
In Wednesday's game, she shot 5-9 from the 3 point land, which was a major part of the Sky's offense. She led all scorers with 22 points.
In the post-game media session, Quigley was asked about her three point shooting now and during her time at DePaul. She also talked a bit about teammate Keisha Hampton. Below is the Quigley portion of the post-game media session.
It's very cool to see a local lady do well with the Sky. Quigley has worked hard to get to this point and she deserves all of the success she has and the praise she gets.
Thank you to the Chicago Sky for their hospitality. I appreciate Quigley's time and consideration for this media session. I encourage everyone to check out the Sky in action. Head over to Sky.WNBA.comfor more info, incuding their remaining schedule.
Last Wednesday, we were back "On the Beat" with the WNBA Chicago Sky, as they defeated the Dallas Wings 90-84 to raise their record to 5-12. Their second consecutive win was an impressive one.
Trailing by 6 at halftime, the Sky came roaring out in the 3rd quarter to take a 78-63 lead. The Sky held off a 21-12 4th quarter run by the Wings, to secure their victory. Today, we focus on Forward Keisha Hampton, who also played a big part in the win.
Hampton scored 12 points, on 4-7 shooting from the field and 4-6 from 3 point land. She also added one assist, one rebound and one blocked shot.
Like teammate Allie Quigley, Hampton starred at DePaul University, was selected in the second round of the WNBA Draft (22nd overall, too) by the Seattle Storm and was waived prior to the season. That's a lot of coincidences. Hampton started her WNBA career with the Minnesota Lynx last season. She joined the Sky for this season.
This season, Hampton has played in 12 games, averaging about 2.8 points and 7 minutes played per game. She has made the most of her opportunities, including coming up big in Wednesday's win. Her performance was especially vital with the absence of Cappie Pondexter due to the Concussion Protocol.
In the post-game media session, Hampton discussed her perseverance in her career, along with a bit on her relationship with fellow DePaul alum Quigley. Hampton seemed to enjoy the session or maybe it was just the aftereffect of her excellent performance.
Thank you to the Chicago Sky for their hospitality. Thanks, too, to Keisha Hampton for her time and consideration in the media session. I am already looking forward to my next time "On the Beat" with the Sky. For more info on the Sky, including their schedule, head to Sky.WNBA.com.
We were very happy to be back "On the Beat" at yesterday's Chicago Sky game, especially since they beat the Dallas Wings 90-84. The Sky has now won consecutive games, to bring their record to 5-12.
As always, I arrived early at the Allstate Arena. I like to soak in every minute of these experiences. As I drove to Rosemont, battling the downpour, I wondered what the attendance would be.
That question was quickly answered as I arrived at the arena. Ninety minutes before the game, there was a huge crowd waiting for the doors to open. The crowd eventually grew to over 14,000. Again, a large percentage of the crowd was youngsters, who were excited, loud and well-behaved.
The Sky and Wings were tied at the end of the first quarter, but the Sky fell behind 50-46 at halftime. This game was a battle.
The third quarter was owned by the Sky, as they outscored the Wings 32-13 to take the lead at 78-63. The Sky would never relinquish the lead, surviving a 21-12 comeback by the Wings in the fourth quarter.
Guard Allie Quigley topped all scorers with 22 points. As a team, the Sky shot 53% from the field, 48% from 3 point land and 57.1% from the free throw line. The Wings shot 39.2%, 29.6% and 90% respectively in those categories.
Forward Jessica Breland took the rebounding honors with 12. The Sky had 10 offensive rebounds and 30 defensive rebounds for a total of 40. The Wings had 10 and 17 for a total of 27.
In the post-game media session, Coach Amber Stocks praised her team for their effort, especially without the services of Cappie Pondexter, who sat out due to the concussion protocol. Coach Stocks talked about the big third quarter, the three point shooting and about Allie Quigley and Keisha Hampton, who flanked her at the session.
One reporter asked the players about their time at DePaul, since both came from that school. Coach Stocks expanded on their answers by praising the DePaul program and Coach Doug Bruno.
I'd say it was a very happy media session, but Coach Stocks always keeps things professional and positive. Her media sessions are interesting and refreshing. I admit I did not know much about Coach Stocks prior to this season, but I have to say how much respect I have for her. She is coaching the team during a transitional time. After losing Elena Delle Donne, the team took criticism for trading the face of the franchise and one of the league's best players. Prior to the start of this season, Stocks replaced former Head Coach Pokey Chatman, inheriting a lot of questions.
She has handled all gracefully. Despite a 5-12 record, there are a lot of positive signs. A little more consistency could have that record drastically improved. I can honestly say, I have never seen the Sky give up. They fight to the end.
Below is the post-game media session featuring Coach Stocks. I will share the rest of the media session in the next couple days.
Thank you to the Chicago Sky for their hospitality. Thank you to Coach Stocks for her time and consideration. I encourage everyone to join the fun at a future Sky game. Check out Sky.WNBA.com for all of the news, scheduling and other info.
Does anyone really know the full history of Shifty? He is quite legendary around the ballpark. He is truly the original Bandit, being with them from the beginning.
His name tag reads "Shifty" and he is officially the Assistant to the GM, but his presence is felt throughout the park.
Shifty can be seen everywhere. He is a fountain of knowledge and is happy to discuss the Bandits with all. I have learned a lot from Shifty and I appreciate his kindness and his help over the years. He was one of the first people to really reach out to me when I started covering the team.
We also learned that we were neighbors. Actually, we lived about two blocks apart, but we saw each other around several times. I have since moved a mile or so away (not because of Shifty) and I miss seeing him so often.
At least I know I can always find Shifty at the ballpark. I take comfort in that. The organization does, too. He is part of the very fabric of the team.
He is also the recipient of a 2016 championship ring for his service to the Bandits. It's not his only ring either. Like the Bandits, Shifty is a champ. He earned those rings.
Shifty is just part of the experience at the ballpark with the Bandits. Head to ChicagoBandits.com to learn all about the whole team and to get tickets.
Thank you Shifty for everything and I look forward to many more years.
This is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, we continue working our way alphabetically through MLB teams. Born in Brooklyn, NY, rapper-actress Cheryl James is better known as "Salt," from Salt-n-Pepa. They were the first female rap act to have gold, platinum, and multi-platinum albums, and the first female rap act to win a Grammy Award. James has done musical projects with others, but also has appeared on-and-off with Pepa (aka Sandra Denton). It was their joint appearance at a Marlins game that got them both on Celebrity Jersey Cards.
The "Pepa" of Salt-n-Pepa is Sandra Denton, a Jamaican–born American hip hop artist/rapper and actress. Like her Salt-n-Pepa counterpart James, Denton has performed with others, but always returns to the act which gave her the most notoriety. Like James, she bends the time continuum on her Celebrity Jersey Card which would have been released prior to the existence of the Marlins.
This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.
Last week we featured film-maker Bobby Easley at On the Beat with Bobby Easley and Brian Neal. Bobby and Brian were promoting their movie projects, The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company and Belly Timber.
I have written about Bobby and these movies several times. I met Bobby at a Days event and I started following his work because it fascinated me. I don't promote him because he is a friend or because I promote Days of the Dead and other such events. I support Bobby because his movies are fantastic. I promote Bobby because I think my readers would like what Bobby creates.
At the recent Days of the Dead, during our interview, I asked Bobby about who he wanted to meet at the event. He mentioned Haruo Nakajima, who had a table across from Bobby.
Nakajima, best known for portraying Godzilla from the 1950's through the early 1970's, was definitely a favorite of a lot of people at the Days event. It was cool to hear Bobby talk about his fandom and then to see him meet Nakajima.
These are the kind of cool things you see at a Days event. Even the celebrities like meeting the other celebrities. That puts everyone in a good mood.
I always encourage everyone to check out Days at DaysOfTheDead.net. I also encourage everyone to check out my interview with Bobby and to check out his projects!
Haruo Nakajima and Bobby Easley in Indianapolis, IN-July 2017.
I have known George Castle for many years, having met and befriended him early in my career at Lerner Newspapers. George was our very popular and knowledgeable sports features writer. We worked together on a few projects there as well. George is a bottomless pit of baseball trivia. He can recite stats and facts like nobody else I have ever known.
We've kept in touch since the sad demise of Lerner and when I heard he would be appearing with Hall of Fame football Coach Marv Levy to promote Marv's book, I made sure to attend the book signing.
Marv's book is "Go Cubs Go!: Baseball's Never Give Up Story" and George is a Special Contributor to it. This is the illustrated story of Grandpa Bruno bear, talking to his four cubby bear grandchildren about not giving up. It's the story of the patience of a Cubs fan and a lesson in life. It's essentially a children's book, but the moral is for everyone and I enjoyed reading it.
At the signing, I got a quick interview with Marv and George. They talked about working with each other. Marv also stressed that the point goes beyond patience. It is about never giving up.
We were back "On the Beat" with the back-to-back reigning National Pro Fastpitch champion Chicago Bandits and back interviewing players. Today, the Beat brings us to pitcher Shelby Turnier.
Shelby starred at the University of Central Florida, becoming the first All-American in UCF softball history after earning First Team honors in 2015. She was a 3x All-Conference player and she holds the single season UCF ERA mark with an outstanding 0.87.
Shelby was selected by the Bandits in the second round (11th overall) in the 2016 NPF Draft. She is the highest draft pick in UCF history.
In her rookie season with the Bandits, she was a solid 6-4, with a 3.22 ERA. She really shined in the post-season though. Breanna pitched 10 scoreless innings, notching a win and 2 saves. She also pitched a 1-2-3 7th inning in Game 3 to propel the Bandits to their second consecutive NPF title.
This season, Shelby is 1-3 with a 4.74 ERA with 30 strike outs in 31 innings. She has appeared in 14 games, starting 5.
In the interview below, we talked about winning the title in her first season, having her family come to games, her career plans and more. Shelby gave some interesting insight into what she tries to convey to young pitchers.
Thank you to the Bandits for their continued hospitality. Thanks, also, to Shelby for her time and consideration. Check out ChicagoBandits.com for more info on this exciting team.
The USSSA Pride is easily in 1st place in the National Pro Fastpitch, while the Beijing Shougang Eagles have yet to win a game. The Chicago Bandits are in a fight with the three other teams, with all within 3 games of each other. Meanwhile, we are "On the Beat" with the Bandits again and loving it as always. Today, our coverage brings us to pitcher Breanna Wonderly.
From western Missouri, Breanna eventually made her way to the University of Illinois (as she explains in the interview below). In her senior year, she had 38 starts, going 21-16 with an ERA of 2.63. Breanna went undrafted, but wanted her career to continue and she made it happen when the Bandits signed her earlier this year.
As of this writing, Breanna has appeared in seven games, earning one save and posting a 3.41 ERA. She has 9 strikeouts against 4 walks in 12.2 innings pitched.
In the interview below, we talked about her path to Illinois and then to the Bandits. Breanna also talked about her first season in the NPF and playing fairly close to her home area.
I had a little extra fun with Breanna. I had read that she was a fan of the Kansas City Royals and I asked her about her favorites on the team. Breanna was ready for that question and she proved she has passion for the Royals.
Thank you to the Bandits for their continued hospitality in allowing me to do these interviews. Thank you to Breanna for her time and consideration and for being a good sport about my poking of the Royals. Breanna is another welcome addition to this teama nd I look forward to following her career. Head to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the team and Breanna!
We are very happy to be back "On the Beat" with the back-to-back reigning National Pro Fastpitch champion Chicago Bandits. Today, our coverage brings us to pitcher Lacey Waldrop.
Wearing #13, Lacey proves that she doesn't believe in bad luck and that talent supersedes such thoughts. In our interview last year, she talked about her attitude towards the game in terms of being serious, but not overly serious. It again stems from her abilities and her belief system. Lacey's maturity is evident on and off the field.
She is off to a solid start this season. As of this writing, Lacey is 3-2 with an ERA of 1.81. She also has 20 strikeouts in 31 innings.
This season, we talked to Lacey about winning her second title in the NPF. We also talked about her debut in the NPF, which was a one-hitter.
I got a little help in the interview from Kenzie Parker, young softball player and superfan of the Bandits. Kenzie submitted three questions for Lacey to answer.
I liked Kenzie's contribution. It's good to get the perspective of a young fan. I think other young fans and players will benefit from her questions.
A big thanks to the Chicago Bandits for their continued hospitality. I also appreciate Lacey's time and consideration this season and in the past. She's another great role model and elite athlete of the Bandits and we are happy to have her here! For more info on Lacey and the Bandits, check out ChicagoBandits.com.
PL Myers had been running HeroTV on Comcast for the last 20 years. He asked me to join as co-host for his 21st year in 2017. Of course, I jumped on board.
Our first show was an introduction of the revised show including me. Our second and third show featured us interviewing Elliott Serrano, the King of Chicago Geeks. The fourth show starts today and I am so proud of this episode.
It was our first real on-location show and I organized it, including getting our guest, Emily Allard of the Chicago Bandits.
As regular readers know, I cover the Bandits and I love the Bandits and National Pro Fastpitch. Emily is one of a handful of players who have been there for all of my four seasons. Actually, she was a rookie in my "rookie" season with the team.
I just love Emily. She's everything you'd want in a player, teammate, coach, friend or person. She's tough, athletic, intelligent, funny and sweet as can be. She always has had time for our interviews at the ballpark or even just friendly chatter.
This time, the interview wasn't for Johngy's Beat, but rather for HeroTV. despite being her usual busy self, Emily gave us her time on a beautiful Sunday morning at the ballpark. PL and I asked several questions and Emily gave us thoughtful answers.
I really enjoyed this experience. As we stood there in the park, I knew this was why I loved doing this. It was a perfect morning and we got to air Emily's story and promote the Bandits a bit.
That episode started airing July 1 on Comcast and it will be on our HeroTV YouTube channelsoon. I am excited to see it air and I hope you all enjoy it.
On an unfortunate side note, since the taping, Emily has had to step away from softball for now due to injuries. Her softball future is uncertain, but I know if she can come back, she will. If she cannot return, she will be involved in some way and she will continue making the world a better place.
Thank you to PL for this opportunity. Thank you all for following me and hopefully you will watch this episode. Finally and most importantly, a HUGE thanks to Emily for her time and consideration. Thanks, too, to Emily for doing what she does and making a difference. It has been a pleasure knowing Emily and a thrill to interview her in this format.
As always, thank you to the Chicago Bandits for letting me do what Iove doing. Check out the team at ChicagoBandits.com.
PL Myers, Emily Allard and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2017.
We were "On the Beat" for our seventh straight year at Days of the Dead Indianapolis. Two years ago, at a Days event, I had the pleasure of interviewing Bobby Easley, a writer, director, actor and more. That interview can be found at On The Beat With Bobby Easley.
This year, I got another interview with Bobby and we were joined by Cinematographer Brian Neal, The two men have worked tirelessly to make The Devil Dogs of Kilo Company and Belly Timber.
I had the pleasure of watching a screening of Devil Dogs at a previous Days and I was blown away. The plot involves a company of Marines on a secret mission behind enemy lines. They have to fight their way through the situation.
That sounds like a typical action movie, but Devil Dogs is anything but typical. Featuring the voices of stars such as Kane Hodder, Bill Moseley, Phil Anselmo, John Dugan and more, the movie is shot using those little toy green soldiers and their equipment.
The necessary effort alone is amazing, but the execution is even better. Only a super creative mind like Bobby has could come up with this concept and make it happen.
On top of it all, Bobby is a really good guy. He's a hard-working, high energy person who promotes his labor of love with the same type of passion he put into making the movies.
Aside from Devil Dogs, the pair talked about Belly Timber. I'll let them handle the summary j the interview below.
In the end of the interview, I state that I am covering and following their progress as a reporter, but also as a fan. I choose what I cover and I think the movie is great, as are Bobby and Brian. I like to share my findings with my readers, so they can enjoy good works, too. Devil Dogs is a winner and I am looking forward to seeing Belly Timber, too. With Bobby and Brian behind it, it's got to be good.
This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.
George Castle is a sports writer and columnist. I met George many years ago while at Lerner Newspapers. We worked on a couple projects together, but we mostly talked sports, specifically baseball trivia.
George has one of the greatest minds for baseball history. He can trace players for decades based on a series of trades. He can recite game specifics from long ago. He really is amazing.
He has written several books, including Jackie Robinson West, the story of the Chicago Little League team that won the title, but was involved in a big controversy concerning area boundaries. While promoting Jackie Robinson West, George appeared on WCIU's Sports Edition hosted by Kenny McReynolds, another noted loca sports media person.
McReynolds has had a lengthy career on television and the radio. The five time Emmy Award winner has battled some health issues, but he remains positive and seems to be doing well. It's always good to see him on the air.
This is one of the rare Friendly Encounters, where both subjects are celebrities. I just happen to be friends with one of them. I give George hassles allthe time, but he is a local sports media fixture. I have always maintained that he should have his own show (on tv or the radio). George knows his stuff and is always a fountain of fascinating info.
While George might not find a regular tv or radio gig, at least we can always enjoy his forays into writing either his columns or another book. Baseball and the Media: How Fans Lose in Today's Coverage of the Game is one of his latest efforts and it is a fantastically, interesting read. Check out George's books on Amazon.
Kenny McReynolds and George Castle in Chicago, IL-June 2016.
My first game live "On the Beat" with the WNBA Chicago Sky was last Wednesday's 82-75 loss to the Indiana Fever. Despite the loss, I had a great time and recapped my experience on the Patch at On the Beat With the Chicago Sky-6/28/17.
Forward Jessica Breland, 29, starred at the University of North Carolina. During her time there, she was diagnosed with Hodgkin's lymphoma. She had to sit out the 2009-10 season, but fortunately recovered.
The Minnesota Lynx selected her in the second round with the 13th overall pick in the 2011 WNBA Draft. She was then traded to the New York Liberty. After 2 seasons with the Liberty and 1 with the Indiana Fever, Breland signed as a free agent with the Sky for the 2014 season.
This season, she is averaging 8.9 points per game, while collecting 6.6 rebounds. She is shooting 46.9% from the field and 36.8% from 3 point land.
In Wednesday's game, she led the Sky with 30:16 minutes played and 22 points scored, on an incredible 11-16 (68.8%) shooting.
Breland discussed her impressive offensive performance and the rebound dominance of the Sky. She was quick to share credit with her teammates.
As with Coach Amber Stocks and Guard Cappie Pondexter, I was very impressed by Breland's composure, professionalism and attitude. At 3-11 with no home wins, it would be easy to hang your head. Instead, the Sky shows every sign of remaining positive and pulling together as a team. I really hope they start collecting wins and I believe they will. Better times are ahead.
Once again, I thank the Chicago Sky for their hospitality. It was a wonderful experience and one that I will be repeating and covering here and on the Patch. In the meantime, go to Sky.WNBA.com for more info.
After covering the WNBA Chicago Sky for the Patch.com, I was "On the Beat" at an actual game Wednesday. Unfortunately, the Sky lost 82-75 to the Indiana Fever, but that did not ruin a great day. You can read my full recap on the Patch at On the Beat With the Chicago Sky-6/28/17.
Guard Cappie Pondexter, 34, is in her 12th WNBA season. After an outstanding career at Rutgers University, Pondexter was selected 2nd overall by the Phoenix Mercury in the 2006 WNBA Draft. She played 4 seasons with Phoenix, followed by 5 seasons with the New York Liberty, before joining the Sky for the 2015 season. She has also played for a few teams in Europe.
Pondexter is a two time WNBA champ (2007 and 2009 with the Mercury). She is also a multi-time Turkish champ and winner of one Russian Cup. She has quite an impressive basketball resume.
In Wednesday's game, she scored 13 points, with 7 rebounds in 30:02 minutes of play (second most on the team). After the game, she took responsibility, like a true veteran team leader. You can hear all of her comments in the Post-game media session below.
You'll see Pondexter is quiet in the beginning, but she quickly gets lively when talking about the team attitude and effort. I was very impressed with Pondexter's responses, especially after a tough loss.
I want to thank the Chicago Sky for their hospitality. I am excited about attending more games and providing more coverage of the team. You can go to Sky.WNBA.com to get more info, including their schedule.
I'm not just a writer covering the Sky. I am also a fan, as you can tell. In fact, I have already organized a group of friends to attend a game next month and I am working on more. The Sky provide a great game experience and they deserve support.
