Scott Touzinsky and "Champions"

Scott Touzinsky was well on his way to a great career in volleyball, when he severely tore his ACL in 2004. Doctors feared he wouldn't be able to play again. Through hard work and determination, he returned to competitive action by the end of the year. Touzinsky made his Olympic debut at the 2008 Beijing Olympics and won a gold medal.

As devastating as his injury was, Touzinsky admits there are far worse things in life. He would have been just fine if he never stepped on a volleyball court again. That might make his comeback even more impressive. He didn't have to comeback. He could have easily just gone on with life, but he didn't.

Touzinsky's story is one of fifteen featured in Champions, a wonderful book of overcoming obstacles, written by my friends George Castle and John Schenk through Signature Strength. Champions is entertaining, inspirational and heart-warming. The athletes featured have all beaten the odds and have positive stories to tell.

I had the honor of interviewing Touzinsky at the book launch party for Champions. He couldn't have been more gracious, even allowing me to wear his Olympic gold medal.

It may seem silly to be excited about wearing someone else's Olympic medal, but it was a special moment. I'm not a huge fan of the Olympics, but I recognize the significance and the history behind that medal. This specific medal also represented the effort of Touzinsky in reclaiming his volleyball career.

Check out SignatureStrength.org for more information on Champions and the rest of the good things happening at Signature Strength. I promise you will be seeing more wonderful projects from Signature Strength.

Scott Touzinsky and me in Chicago, IL-February 2018.

Cards That Never Were: Fred Stanley 1970, '71 and '73 Topps

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual cards for players missed in various sets over the years.  It is a concept I have borrowed from too many others to credit, but I appreciate all of them.
Fred Stanley had a nice 14 year MLB career.  He made his debut in 1969 with the Seattle Pilots and moved with them to Milwaukee for 1970.  The Cleveland Indians purchased him prior to the 1971 season and he played with them until he was traded to the San Diego Padres midway through the 1972 season.  After that season, he was traded to the New York Yankees, where he stayed through the 1980 season.  He was then traded to the Oakland A's, where he spent the last two seasons of his career.
Stanley first appeared on a 1972 Topps card.  Therefore, 1970 and '71 cards were already missing.  He was also skipped in 1973, creating another void.  He did appear on Topps cards from 1974 through 1983, the last being a "career capper."
Finding pictures from the early days is tough.  I had to clean up the photo of him with the Brewers.  That one is not my best effort, but it was all I could do.  Now I present Stanley on Topps cards from 1970, '71 and '73.

On the Beat With Chalk Girl at Motor City Comic Con 2018

Today we feature the last of our interviews from Motor City Comic Con 2018. We have enjoyed talking to all of these talented folks and we hope you have enjoyed our coverage.

While scanning the artists who would be appearing at MCCC 2018, the Chalk Girl caught my interest. The name alone suggests Superhero status. I was picturing a cape-clad artist with a big C on her chest (printed in chalk, of course. As fun as that might be, the reality of Chalk Girl was much more entertaining.

She was easy to spot at MCCC. While many artists create art on the spot, I have never seen one work on such a large piece. Chalk Girl did this all weekend. Being on her feet the whole time had to be tiring, yet seeing the art come to life really created a buzz in the crowd and wearing a shirt with all of her social media outlets on the back was a smart move.

The Chalk Girl is actually Beth Tobias. She has been drawing since her childhood and had a job drawing at Six Flags for several years. She made her convention debut in 2016, in a move she describes as "on a whim." That certainly worked out well.

Obviously, the Chalk Girl creates beauty with chalk, although she will use other things depending on the project. Small sized commissions might require something more precise than chalk to get the definition and other necessary effects.

As we approached Chalk Girl, I was mesmerized. Artists working their craft always amaze me, but seeing her work on something so large, while standing and using chalk just really blew me away. I could have watched her all day.

Hesitant to bother her, I approached her about an interview, stating that I just had to include this in my coverage of MCCC. Despite being in mid-creation, she gave us a few minutes of her time and I am grateful.

I included a bit of footage of her working in the video interview. I thought it was important to show her in action.

I really enjoyed seeing her work, meeting her and talking to her for the interview. She is a talented, fun person. I always hope to expose artists like Chalk Girl to some new eyes and to illustrate the kind of unique stuff you will find at MCCC.

Thanks to Beth for her time and consideration. Check out AdventuresOfChalkGirl.com, follow Chalk Girl on twitter and like Chalk Girl on Facebook to keep up with all of her news.

As always, thank you to the fine folks at Motor City Comic Con for always putting on a great event. Check out MotorCityComicCon.com for all of the info and to be among the first to ghear about MCCC 2019!

Friendly Encounters: Kato Kaelin and Jack Keenan

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

Keenan and Kaelin sounds like it could be a wacky television sitcom.  The picture below would be the perfect ad for it, too.  Actually, both of them are characters in life.  This could be a real sitcom, just following their adventures together and apart.

When we were entering Wizard World Chicago last year, Jack spotted Kaelin near the entrance.  The con hadn't even officially started and Kaelin was there entertaining the masses in his role as "Convention Host."  That began a weekend of our paths crossing and intertwining.

I have previously written several times about how great Kaelin was at Wizard World.  The Convention Host can be a symbolic title, but Kaelin dove into the role and was a major hit every day.  I honestly do not remember seeing him not working.  He was amazing.

Equally amazing in his own right was Jack, who often helps me as a photographer.  He earned the nickname "Sniper" from Luke Perry and he truly lives up to that monicker.  Jack rarely misses a picture and often times gets me shots I would have missed completely, like with Kaelin.

It was a lot of fun working with these two and I hope to do it again this summer.  I know Jack is in.  Now, we just have to get Kaelin back on board!

Jack Keenan and Kato Kaelin in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #374 Phyllis Smith & Billy Bob Thornton

Celebrity Jersey cards is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys.  Today, I continue my alphabetical journey through the Major League Baseball teams.

Actress Phyllis Smith was born in St. Louis, MO and stayed true to her roots by donning a Cardinals jersey for her Celebrity Jersey Card.  A true Cards fan, Smith stopped by the ballpark while in town for a performance at the Muny.  Smith might be best known for her role as Phyllis on tv's The Office.  I'm not sure what the article she is showing is, but I'm guessing it is The Office-related.

Billy Bob Thornton was born in Arkansas, but is a legit fan of the Cardinals.  His childhood dream was to play for the Cards, but at least he got to throw out a pitch for them, while also earning a Celebrity Jersey Card.  He narrated The 2006 World Series Film about the Cardinals' championship season. He is also a fan of the Indianapolis Colts, but I have no picture of him in a Colts jersey..

Cuzz Buzz With Jack O'Halloran at Motor City Comic Con 2018

Johngy's Beat was all over the 2018 Motor City Comic Con. We continue featuring the great interviews we got at this year's event.
While planning our schedule, Cuzz Gekas expressed an interest in interviewing Jack O'Halloran. While Cuzz has been a huge help over the years, he has never done a solo interview and this would be perfect. As a boxing aficionado, Cuzz would have a much better perspective than I would have had. I was excited.
I am happy (and not surprised) to say that Cuzz handled it like a champ. He hit all of the major high points and served up good questions to O'Halloran.
At this point, I will turn it over to Cuzz:

Jack O’Halloran gained movie fame playing the role of Non, one of the villainous trio battling Clark Kent in the Superman (1978) and Superman II (1980) films. He has also appeared in well over a dozen movies and countless television shows. However, O’Halloran’s life story is much more interesting than just his acting career.

O’Halloran was a heavyweight boxer from 1966-1974. He won the California state heavyweight championship and defeated several top contenders. O’Halloran even battled champions George Foreman and Ken Norton and was on the verge of a fight with Muhammad Ali before contract negotiations fell through. He has been inducted into both the California and New Jersey Boxing Hall of Fame.

Johngy and I had an opportunity to interview O’Halloran at the 2018 Motor City Comic Con. Jack was very engaging and talked about his boxing career, his transition into acting, his iconic role in the Superman movies as well as his latest projects.

Check out the interview below.

Thank you to O'Halloran for his time and consideration. Thanks as always to the Motor City Comic Con for granting us access and facilitating our interactions. Lastly, thanks to Cuzz for an excellent interview and for always making these trips a lot of fun.
Please also check out MotorCityComicCon.com and follow MCCC on Facebook to get all of the news and updates. We're already looking forward to 2019!

On the Beat With Jordan Trovillion at Motor City Comic Con 2018

The last time we saw Jordan Trovillion was at C2E2, when we were both covering the media session for Daphne and Velma. It's always good to see a friendly face at these events and Jordan is one of our favorites, although I am used to seeing her on the other end of the media sessions.

Jordan was at C2E2 for Get It To The Geeks, her new show. As host, Jordan guides the audience through various segments about new movies, games, technology and other geek stuff. It's a fun combination of all things in pop culture, without being over-the-top geeky. Jordan and the crew have lots of fun and there is some silliness involved, but just the right amount to keep things entertaining and fun. It is described as a show with "local focus and global scope."

I really have enjoyed the first 11 episodes. Of course, I went into it biased, because I think Jordan is the best, but that alone couldn't continually keep my interest. I enjoy Get It To The Geeks and it is now bookmarked as a regular internet stop.

At Motor City Comic Con 2018, we talked to Jordan about Get It To The Geeks and other things happening in her world. I'll let her inform you in the interview below, but I am excited about current and future projects.

We first interviewed Jordan back in 2012. It has been awesome seeing her succeeding and venturing into many fields. She's talented, funny, determined and most of all, a real sweetheart. I always look forward to seeing Jordan at MCCC (and in movies, webshows and anywhere else).

Thank you to Jordan for her time, consideration and friendship. Go to JordanTrovillion.net, follow Jordan on twitter and like the Jordan page on FB to get all of her info and updates. Also, check out Get It To The Geeks and follow Get It To The Geeks on FB!

Thank you to the fine folks at the Motor City Comic Con for always putting on a fantastic event. Check out MotorCityComicCon.com and follow MCCC on FB to stay upsated and to get the first news of the 2019 MCCC. I cant wait!

The "Or Else" Podcast: Episode 18: Girl Girls Girls

The latest episode of The "Or Else" podcast is on SoundCloud. Episode 18: Girls Girls Girls is jam-packed with all sorts of fun stuff.

Tommy Else and I discuss the Second Annual Samuel J. Thompson Tournament, which featured eight woman battling for a spot on the Resistance Pro roster. The night also included a Battle Royal, Tommy's record-setting match and much more.

This night also represented my biggest accomplishment within the RPro world. I facilitated the appearance of the Legends Football League champion Chicago Bliss.

I had been covering both the Bliss and RPro and it seemed like a great opportunity to merge both worlds and do a little cross-promotion. It was especially timely, considering this event featured the women's tourney.

I approached Tommy, then the Baron brothers, then Bliss coach Keith Hac and everyone loved the idea. The Bliss players also were excited about the possibility.

Most of the team was able to arrive early and mingle with the fans. Both RPro and the LFL had stated that the team would not get involved with actual wrestling, although the plan was for the Bliss to be part of the group of women surrounding the ring (aka lumberjills) for the tournament final. That part went well, but the overall plan went out at the end, when the Bliss ended up in the ring in a sort of standoff with some of the RPro women.

I was very nervous heading into the event, hoping all would go well. It actually went better than I could have hoped. I think everyone had a great time. The Bliss players were awesome all night and I think some really wanted to mix it up in the ring.

Sometimes things just all fall into place. This was one of those nights. This was one of the best nights I ever had at an RPro event.

This was the first of a few crossover events between the Bliss and RPro. There was a real energy there between the two and the fanbases overlapped. It seemed like a natural fit and it was.

Check out The "Or Else" podcast Episode 18: Girls Girls Girls on SoundCloud. If you missed any older episode or want to hear all of them again, you can check the main page of The "Or Else" podcast on SoundCloud.

Kira Brabeck, Aubrey Nelson, Jess Price, Emma Kuhns, Jori and me in Willowbrook, IL-February 2014.

Butch Hobson and the 2018 Chicago Dogs

I have watched as Impact Field was built in Rosemont. It was promised to be a beautiful stadium and it is just that.

I jumped on board with the Dogs several months ago. My distribution company spread their schedules all over the Chicago area. I also started writing pieces all over the net, like at Chicago Dogs for Global Traveler. I was excited to be in from the start.

This Friday, May 25, it all truly starts with their Home Opener against the Kansas City T-Bones. I'll be sitting in the pressbox, but I will also make sure to visit the entire stadium. I have seen it empty and now I want to see it with all of the attractions in place and the fans filling up the seats.

The Dogs are part of a new era in Rosemont. It is now an entertainment destination and the Dogs and Chicago Bandits are right in the middle of it all. It's going to be a fun summer.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Manager Butch Hobson and he was excited and positive about the Dogs. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Butch Hobson.

I'll be "On the Beat" all season and I look forward to exciting baseball and a lot of fun. Check back here for recurring coverage and check TheChicagoDogs.com for all of the info on the team, including the schedule.

Butch Hobson and me in Rosemont, IL-May 2018.

On the Beat With Larry B. Scott at Motor City Comic Con 2018

We are back from being "On the Beat" at the Motor City Comic Con 2018 and we continue our interviews. Today, we feature Larry B. Scott.

I had a lot of fun meeting Larry and doing this interview. I immediately felt like a longtime friend of his, even though he might have asked us to leave. Seriously, he actually did the opposite, by inviting us to his booth and eagerly agreeing to do the interview.

I start off by complimenting his booth layout. He had many pictures from various projects he has done. This is not only cool for the fans, it is smart business. Fans lie choices and also, fans might buy multiples.

For instance, he has appeared in Seinfeld and Revenge of the Nerds. Each has their own fanbase and there is some crossover. Larry had pictures from those roles and several others. Between those choices and his winning personality, everyone walked away happy! As for us, we walked away and then returned with our MCCC Press Liaison Stephanie to get the interview.

Larry talked about still being recognized for certain roles, enjoying seeing old castmates, new projects (including Black Jesus) and much more. He even spoke a bit about his musician son.

It was a real pleasure and just another example of the fun to be had at the Motor City Comic Con. It's stuff like this that keeps me coming back every year!

Thank you to Larry for his time and humor. You can follow Larry on twitter at @Lbeezee17. He's relatively new there and asked that we all be gentle. We love Larry and of course, he's kidding.

Also, be sure to check MotorCityComicCon.com for updates and news. I am already looking forward to next year!

On the Beat With Diamond Dallas Page at Motor City Comic Con 2018

We are back from the Motor City Comic Con and we had a blast! We got a bunch of interviews, which we will be posting here and on the Johngy's Beat Motor City Comic Con playlist on YouTube, starting with our old friend WWE Hall of Famer Diamond Dallas Page.

As has been well-documented, DDP started wrestling a lot later than most, but he also achieved a lot more than most. The multi-time champ worked incredibly hard at his craft and he earned his Hall of Fame induction.

DDP didn't just sit back and rest on his HOF credentials though. For the last several years, he has been helping millions through his DDP Yoga. I have witnessede DDP do some incredible things through his yoga program. He basically saved Jake "the Snake" and Scott Hall. He gave Arthur Boorman a new life. Miracles do happen through DDP Yoga and hard work.

We talked to DDP about his yoga and other things in the interview below. He also told us about his workshop in Chicago on September 1,during the "All In" weekend. This is a great opportunity to learn from the man himself. It can be the start of a whole new you through DDP yoga.

I really applaud DDP for what he accomplished in the ring and now what he is doing outside of wrestling. DDP is making a difference.

Check out DDPYoga.com to get more info on the great things DDP is doing. Also, follow DDP on Facebook for regular updates. Lastly, go to DDPYogaWorkshops.com to get all of the info on his next great event.

Thank you to DDP for his time and for all he has done. Thanks as always to the fine folks at the Motor City Comic Con!

Friendly Encounters: Charlotte Flair and Ty Wasilk

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

I met Ty Wasilk a few years back at a wrestling show. Ty is a hug wrestling fan and has met many wrestlers. I don't know how he does it, but he meets them everywhere.
At a recent WWE show in Moline, IL, Ty met Charlotte Flair, WWE SmackDown Women's Champion and daughter of "The Nature Boy" Ric Flair. It wasn't part of the usual photo ops. Ty met her outside somewhere and managed to get a nice picture with the champ.
Charlotte is doing quite well in wrestling. Obviously, being Ric's daughter helped her start her career, but she has worked hard to improve and become an excellent wrestler.
Ty is a great guy. I'm sure I'll see him many times this year at wrestling shows and comic cons. Anywhere you see a bunch of wrestlers in this area, odds are you'll see Ty. Maybe I should take some tips from my friend.

Charlotte Flair and Ty Wasilk in Moline, IL-March 2018.

Nen at Motor City Comic Con 2016

Nen Chang is a concept artist and an illustrator, who admits to "occasionally dabbling in comics."  She has worked as a costume designer and cover artist.  Her clients include DC, Marvel and many others.

Nen is an interesting person.  She is deep and thoughtful, but whimsical, too.  You can get a slice of that in her bio on her site (Retromortis.com).  This dual nature is evident in her creations.  

One of my favorite pieces of hers is For The Night Is Dark.  It's simply mesmerizing to me.  What exactly is she saying with this piece?  Sometimes, I don't actually want to know.  Sometimes the reality is too confining.  I like looking at it and wondering or coming up with new thoughts.

Is this woman happy, sad or somewhere in between?  Is she struggling or at peace?  I can get lost in this picture.

Of course, Nen has lots of other great work, too.  You can check out her gallery and learn all about her at Retromortis.com.  She is also active on the comic con circuit.

Nen and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

Kelly LeBrock at Motor City Comic Con 2017

In the 1980's movies The Woman In Red (her movie debut) and Weird Science, actress Kelly LeBrock played the role of the "perfect" woman.  She was stunning then and 30 years later, she is still beautiful.

At last year's Motor City Comic Con, LeBrock's booth was next to her Weird Science costar Anthony Michael Hall.  As a fan of both and Weird Science, it was great to see them together and I think they enjoyed it, too.

LeBrock spoke the famous line of "Don't hate me because I'm beautiful" while she was a spokesmodel for Pantene.  I wonder how many times she has had to sign that with her autograph.  A good or memorable catch phrase can always be beneficial.

When speaking about her career, LeBrock immediate brings up her The Woman In Red costar Gene Wilder, who passed away in 2016.   He was her acting mentor, friend, surrogate father and more.  It was easy to feel just how much she loved and appreciate Wilder.  Their relationship was special and has positively affected her throughout her life.

The MCCC started yesterday and will continue through tomorrow.  If you're anywhere in the Novi, MI area, it is definitely worth the effort to get here.  Check out MotorCityComicCon.com for all of the relevant info.

Kelly LeBrock, Cuzz Gekas and me in Novi, MI-May 2017.

Mark Rothman at Motor City Comic Con 2013

Motor City Comic Con is finally here. Today, I present one more great memory from our many years of covering MCCC.

Mark Rothman is a writer best known for having been involved with the creation and production of tv's Laverne and Shirley.  He was also the head writer on several other shows, including Happy Days and The Odd Couple.  I had the pleasure of interviewing him at the 2013 Motor City Comic Con and that can be found at On the Beat With Mark Rothman.

I wish comic cons would have more guests like Rothman.  He isn't recognizable to most, but we all owe a huge thanks to him for bringing us so much entertainment.  Rothman and his colleagues are vastly underappreciated and have so many interesting stories to tell.

My moment with Rothman was relatively brief, but fascinating.  I remember trying to narrow down my questions, because I had so many about his great career.  He worked with some legends like Henry Winkler, Ron Howard, Penny Marshall, Cindy Williams, Ted Knight and so many more.  Even now looking back, I can think of so many different questions to ask.

I want to publicly thank Rothman for his time at the MCCC and for so many great hours of entertainment of my youth.  I also want to thank the MCCC and credit them for bringing in such a unique guest.

The 2018 MCCC starts today and runs through Sunday.  I'll be "On the Beat" as usual.  Check MotorCityComicCon.com for more info.

Mark Rothman and me in Novi-MI-May 2013.

Peri Toth at Motor City Comic Con 2017

I first met Tornado Toth and his daughters Layne and Peri way back in 2009 at the Motor City Comic Con.  Among other things, the talented girls were comic book creators.  They created Lucky: The One-Eyed Stray Dog for their Sisters Comics enterprise.

I have kept up with the Toth family since then through social media.  It's an understatement to write that they have been busy.

Last year at the MCCC, I was happy to run into Tornado and Peri right in the middle of the event floor.  We spent about 30 minutes catching up.

Tornado was his usual self.  He certainly lives up to his nickname.  Peri has grown into a young lady and was busy trying to get some interviews with the celebrities.

Peri is so far ahead of the game, it is scary (playing off on her nickname there).  At a young age, she has a lot of experience already and has such a bright future.  I started Johngy's Beat when I was much older than Peri and I am envious and impressed with what Peri has accomplished.

I hope Peri will be at this year's MCCC (May 18-20).  I know I will be there "On the Beat" as usual.  You can get all of the info on MCCC at MotorCityComicCon.com.  You can also learn more about Peri at ScaryPeri.com.

Tornado and Peri Toth and me in Novi, MI-May 2017.

Happy Birthday Laura!

Today is my niece Laura's birthday. To celebrate, I will do some birthday magic.

If you take the last two digits of her birth year and subtract that from 100, then add 18, you'll get her age. Magic! That's sort of an inside joke between the birthday girl and me, but if you follow Facebook, you'll often see the insipid meme which spawned this joke.

Laura is awesome. She's strong, opinionated, sarcastic and funny. I love her dearly, even if she didn't update my iPod whenever I ask, even if she didn't laugh and join in on my Julia Child insanity, even though she is not a fan of clowns (or at least my clown character Kazmir).

She'll probably be celebrating with some close ones and her favorite pooch Marley. I'm celebrating her here though.

Happy birthday Laura! I hope your day is as great as you. I love you!

Laura Fitzpatrick and Delaney Jane Parker in Tinley Park, IL-April 2018.

Aly Michalka at Motor City Comic Con 2017

As we approach the Motor City Comic Con, I am featuring some fun moments from my many years of covering the great event.  Maybe it will inspire some of you to go to the event on May 18 through May 20.

Actress and singer Aly Michalka starred on Disney Channel's Phil of the Future as a teenager.  Since then, she has done many other projects on television and feature films.  She also has pursued a musical career with her sister AJ, as Aly and AJ.

We talked to Aly about getting a start on Disney and continuing her career as an adult.  Obviously, the transition can be difficult, but Aly had a great attitude towards it and seems to have made that move successfully.

Aly could also add "photographer" to her resume, though.  Since we were on the con floor early to get some interviews, there weren't a lot of people around.  After talking to Aly, we wanted a photo together, but couldn't find another person to take the picture.  That's when Aly showed us her selfie skills by snapping this picture.  I was initially disappointed, but then I started to think it was a better story to have had Aly do this.  Now it is one of my favorite pictures from my many years at the MCCC.

I am looking forward to the upcoming MCCC (May 18-20) to create new memories.  I hope to see more of my friends there.  You can learn all about it at MotorCityComicCon.com.

Aly Michalka, Cuzz Gekas and me in Novi, MI-May 2017.

Breaking News: Bobby Fulton and the Fantastics on Kickstarter

Breaking News is a new series, which will run as needed. The concept is all in the name itself.

John Crowther has informed me that a Kickstarter campaign for Bobby Fulton and the Fantastics is starting today. This is the first in a three comic series. A wrestling historian and writer, John has previously published comic biographies of Lanny Poffo, the Killer Bees, Nikolai Volkoff and Hacksaw Jim Duggan. The story of The Fantastics is scripted by John with art by Javier Lugo and colors by Blake Wilkie.

Fulton started wrestling in the late 1970's, training and working in several territories. In the early 1980's, he was joined by Tommy Rogers in Mid-South Wrestling. It was there that their famous feud with the Midnight Express started. That feud would continue in WCCW, NWA and elsewhere.

Fulton won several titles as a singles wrestler during his career, but he is more famous for his many tag team title runs, most notably with Rogers at The Fantastic. He is currently one half of the Heroes and Legends tag team champions (along with Tracy Smothers).

Of course, this comic series will tell much more of the story than I just did. John is very thorough, conducting in-person interviews with his subjects to produce an in-depth look at their life stories. Brilliant art work accompanies the text to produce a fascinating comic or in this case, a "fantastic" comic (you knew I'd have to work in that pun).

Seriously, I expect great things from this upcoming series. The earlier comics have been well-received by all. As I have previously written, the crew seems to have avoided the usual beginner mistakes. These comics are high quality, entertaining and informative.

I am especially excited about Fulton's comic. While he has been an accomplished wrestler for over 40 years, I do not know as much about him as I did with the other wrestlers listed above. I look forward to this three comic series giving me the real highlights of Fulton and the Fantastics.

Check out the Kickstarter page for Bobby Fulton and the Fantastics - 80's Wrestling Royalty!  There are various incentives for pledge levels. You can get exclusive covers, sketch cards,autographs and more. Most importantly, you'd be helping fund this project. The Kickstarted program runs for 22 days and it has already hit about 20% of the goal in just a few hours. This one is going to be hot. Jump on the campaign now. Be a part of the project!

You can get more info on the wrestler comics series at Squared Circle Comics and the Squared Circle Comics Facebook page. More wrestling biography comics are coming and you'll want to get the news as it develops.

John Crowther and Bobby Fulton in New Orleans, LA-April 2018.

Friendly Encounters: Chewbacca and Jason Fleigel

Friendly Encounters is a regular series in which I feature friends who have met celebrities.  Today, I continue highlighting my experiences at the Motor City Comic Con, by featuring my great friend and one of his screen favorites.
Jason joined me on a few trips to Novi for the MCCC.  He was more interested in the collectibles and the experience than meeting most of the celebrities.  One photo opportunity he did take was with Chewbacca.  (Shhh don't tell him that it wasn't the real Chewie, but a fan dressed as the famous Wookie).  Jason is a huge Star Wars fan and meeting anyone associated with the epic film is always fun for him.
Jason's experience with Chewie is just one example of the many great costumes the feans wear.  When I first started at these shows, people just wore costumes.  Now they are cosplayers and it is a huge part of any comic con.  I have previously written a few times about my search for Aquaman cosplayers at these shows.
The 2018 MCCC starts in a few days and I am certain there will be a few Chewbacca cosplayers, along with many other characters from comic books, movies, tv and more.  I will not be cosplaying, but I will be "On the Beat" as always.  Check out MotorCityComicCon.com for more info on this fun event.

Jason Fleigel and Chewbacca in Novi, MI-May 2010.

Brian Danhausen at Motor City Comic Con 2017

Brian Danhausen is a Michigan based artist.  He's been drawing most of his life.  He owns  Darkwynds Mystic Visions (an art company), is a cosplayer and an author.

His books, Into The AfterLife : Paranormal World and Into The AfterLife: A guide Into Paranormal Investigating deal with the paranormal, an interest of his for most of his life.  Into "The AfterLife Paranormal" is a paranormal team he founded and runs with his wife.  He's had several encounters with the dead and can be called a medium.

When you see him cosplaying The Joker, you might never guess all that he has going on, besides the great costume.  At comic cons like MCCC, he would look just like any other cosplayer (although his costume is among the best).  When you approach his booth and start seeing all he does, you have a whole new appreciation for Danhausen.

For more info on Danhausen, you can check out TheFinalNail.com.  You can also go to MotorCityComicCon.com to learn all about this year's con, including all of their scheduled guests.  Better yet, come out to the 2018 MCCC May 18-20 and see Danhausen and many other talented and famous folks!

Brian Danhausen and me in Novi, MI-May 2017.

Mindy Indy at Motor City Comic Con 2016

Mindy Indy (aka Mindy Steffen) is a talented and popular cartoonist from New York.  She creates her own comics and sketches, but she is also available for commission work.

Her Apartment Hunt is based on a true story.  Other comics of hers like Misfortune Cookie (and Misfortune Cookie 2, which is not a sequel or continuation) are totally pulled from her creative imagination.

As cool as her comics are, I was fascinated by her custom comics.  The customer picks watercolor, digital color or b/w and provides a few pictures and details and Mindy does the rest.  The result is really cartoon magic.  It's odd, but very awesome to see an event or story from your life presented in comic form.  I have seen several of her creations and have seen the reactions of the recipients.  I was almost as excited just seeing the products.  I can see why Mindy Indy is one of the most popular artists at any convention.

You can go to MindyIndy.com to learn more about Mindy.  You can also follow Mindy Indy Comics on Facebook and Mindy_Indy on twitter to get updates and news.

Check out MotorCityComicCon.com for all of the info on this year's event. Mindy will be there all weekend (May 18-20) and so will I!

Mindy Indy and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

On the Beat at The Resistance "Revelations"

The Resistance held Revelations last Friday night. Naturally on May 4, there was a Star Wars theme to the evening. Sticking with that theme, I'd have to say the night of action was out of this world!

Before the show even started, Frankie the Clown entered the ring and announced he was now in charge and the fun was just beginning. In our interview with him, he went into a little more detail, but he also left us wondering about the possibilities.

The night started with newcomers Excalibur and Chainsaw facing off. Chainsaw, with his partial face paint and interesting hair, took the victory. I was impressed with both men, though.
Shane Mercer and Hy Zaya defended their tag team championships of the Resistance against newcomers History in the Making, the team of Brian Douglass and Sless Taylor. HITM dove onto the tag champs before the bell was run. Mercer took the brunt and was out of the ring for a long time. Hy Zaya absorbed a two-on-one beating for the entire time, until Mercer was able to recover enough. It went back and forth a bit at that point, but the tag champs showed why they are champs in eventually securing the win to retain their titles.
In a #1 Contender match, the Minnesota Man Muffin Cody Reis upset Cobra, who was missing his usual manager Justin King. Cobra and Rob Fury, who was here with the Age of the Geeks cosplay group, argued during the match and fought after the match.

There was even action during the intermission when the Death Nut Challenge was held. My broadcast partner Tommy Else faced off against Scotty "Wonderboy" Steiner, who lent his talents to the deejay spot all night. Scotty gave a valiant effort, but tapped out after one hot peanut. Ever the ultimate company man, Tommy ate the next three successively hotter peanuts, defeating Scotty and conquering the Death Nut Challenge. I do have to wonder if Tommy will defend that title on future shows.

In a battle of two powerhouses, Daniel Eades beat Brady Pierce. Pretty evenly matched in size and strength, these two really took it to each other.

Newcomers Sugar Dunkerton and Chip Day had an entertaining match, which saw Suge use his sometimes unorthodox moveset mixed with solid techinical wrestling to defeat Day, who gave Suge an excellent challenge.

In a rematch for the Women's championship, challenger Roni Nicole defeated champ Holidead in a match that went all over the building and even outside. The new champ is deserving, but Holidead should be proud, as well. Congrats to both women on two great matches.

Before the evening ended, it was announced that the next show will be Saturday, June 30, as The Resistance presents Chapter III: Death Becomes Her. Eight women will battle in a Queen of the Death Match Tournament. Once again, the folks at The Resistance have created a unique event, which will surely keep their buzz growing. This is going to be epic!

Check out LiveDieResist.org for all info on The Resistance. Also, follow The Resistance on Facebook!

Ariela Kristantina at Motor City Comic Con 2016

Comic artist Ariela Kristantina is from Jakarta, Indonesia.  She has worked for Marvel, Boom! Studio and other companies.

One of her recent ongoing projects is her work on InSEXts for AfterShock Comics.  InSEXts is the story of two vengeful Victorian vixens, who realize they have the ability to transform themselves into rich and strange new creatures. The series follows them as they forge their life in a new world.  Ariela is joined by writer Marguerite Bennett on this exciting series.

Ariela continues to work on other projects and do commissions for her many fans.  She is a delight at comic cons, both in her artistry and in interactions.

You can follow Ariela on twitter for news and updates.  You can also see a lot of her artwork by following ArielaKris on Instagram.

Head to MotorCityComicCon.com to see this year's lineup of talent. I'll be "On the Beat" all weekend (May 18-20).

Ariela Kristantina and me in Novi, MI-May 2016.

On the Beat With Chicago Dogs Manager Butch Hobson

Butch Hobson was selected by the Boston Red Sx in the 1973 MLB amateur draft. The 3rd baseman made his MLB debut in 1975

He stayed with the Red Sox through the 1980 season, after which he was traded to the California Angels. He played one year with them, before being traded to the New York Yankees, where he played for one season. He did play for 3 more seasons with the Yankees AAA club, before retiring.

In parts of 8 MLB seasons, he hit .248 with  89 home runs. He also had 398 rbi's and 314 runs scored. He won the "Player of the Week" award twice.

Hobson went on to manage the Red Sox for three seasons, compiling a .472 winning percentage. Since then, he has spent most of his time managing in the minors, including several stops in various independent leagues.

This brings us to 2018, when Hobson will manage the new Chicago Dogs of the American Association. The Dogs will be playing at the newly finished Impact Field in Rosemont, IL.

I had the pleasure of meeting and talking to Hobson last weekend. Hobson gave me his thoughts on the new stadium, the independent leagues and coming to Chicago. He looks and sounds great. He si certainly excited about the season. 

I vividly remember Hobson breaking in with the Red Sox. I remember getting his baseball cards in packs. This is one of those surreal moments, when I couldn't believe I was talking to Hobson. It really never gets old for me.

I will be "On the Beat" all season. Check back here for recurring coverage. Also, go to TheChicagoDogs.com for all of the info on the newest team in Chicago.

Thank you to the Chicago Dogs for their hospitality and thanks to Hobson for his time and consideration. Go Dogs!

Friendly Encounters: Dawn Wells and Cuzz Gekas

Friendly Encounters is a regular series featuring friends who have met celebrities.  Today, I continue highlighting some of the fun from my many years going to the Motor City Comic Con.

Cuzz Gekas started joining me on the Motor City Comic Con trip many years ago and has been a mainstay on the trip since then.  I greatly appreciate his valuable help over the years, but more importantly, I appreciate the fun we have together.

Cuzz brings a lot to the table.  We share a love of sports trivia, old television trivia, backup catchers and other silliness.  We are also capable and comfortable with deep conversations on religion and spirituality.  There are a few down times at these cons, while we wait for various events, but Cuzz always makes those times go by quicker.

While he isn't a celebrity chaser like I am, Cuzz will occasionally partake in some celebrity photo opportunities.  One such occasion occurred when we saw Dawn Wells several years ago.

Wells is most famous for playing "Mary Ann on tv's Gilligan's Island.

Wells was very nice when we met her at MCCC 2010.  I had the pleasure of meeting her a few times prior and she was just as sweet each time.  She asked us about our favorite episode and I froze a bit.  I have seen every episode, but I blanked.  I finally said the "pie" episode, which is okay, because that is a very famous episode, but I was disappointed in my stumble.

I have had a lot of great memories with Cuzz on the MCCC trips.  I am especially happy when Cuzz does meet a celebrity who he liked.  I hope he continues the trips with me and I hope we continue to meet our favorites, like Wells!

Check out MotorCityComicCon.com for info on this year's event, which runs from May 18-20. It will be packed with talented folks from all over the pop culture world!

Dawn Wells and Cuzz Gekas in Novi, MI-May 2010.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #373 Henry Winkler & Erin Moran

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys.  Today, I continue marching alphabetically through the Major League Baseball teams.

Manhattan born Henry Winkler rose to fame as "Fonzie" on tv's Happy Days.  The Fonz was about as big as it gets back in the day.  I remember him first from The Lords of Flatbush, which also starred Sylvester Stallone.  A bit ironically, Winkler was not in American Graffiti.  Winkler went on to have a hugely successful career as a producer and director.  A big softball fan, Winkler and the crew often played other teams for charity or fun.  Winkler's Celebrity Jersey Card comes from the Brewers celebrating Fonzie and the show.  On a side note, having met and talked to Winkler a few times, he is one of the nicest people I have ever met.  He truly is a class act.

"Shortcake" to Winkler's Fonz, Erin Moran grew up and became famous on Happy Days.  Moran starred as Joanie Cunningham and even costarred with Scott Baio in Joanie Loves Chachi, a short-lived spinoff.  Joanie eventually married Chachi, to end the run of Happy Days.  Moran's Celebrity Jersey Card comes from the celebration at Miller Park.  Sadly, Moran died last year from stage four squamous cell carcinoma of the throat.  I also met Moran several times and she was so much fun.  She was very fan-friendly and even did a promo for me, which is in the far left column.  RIP Shortcake.

Blog Bat Around: My All Autograph Team

I saw this "Blog Bat Around: My All Autograph Team" on Torren' Up Cards and thought I would join the fun. A Blog Bat Around is simply a blog topic which many bloggers share and promote.
As with most Blog Arounds, there is freedom to personalize it a bit. For my "All Autograph Team," I picked my earliest favorites at all positions. I also included 6 pitchers (one of whom would be a reliever, probably Johnson).

At catcher, I go with my neighbor, friend, first autograph and longtime Twins coach Rick Stelmaszek.

The 1981 Gold Glove winner Mike Squires is my pick at 1st base.

Slick-fielding Mick Kelleher didn't hit enough to be a regular, but he hung around for a long time and became a coach after retirement.

Eddie Leon's classic card is the 1973 Topps, but I loved this card.

I was afan of Eric Soderholm with the Twins and I loved it when he joined the White Sox for a few solid seasons.

Nyls Nyman was a decent prospect who did not pan out, but I still love those uniforms.

Gene Hiser was a prospect who did not pan out for the northside Chicago team.

I saw Bob Coluccio in one of the first games I remember and he became a favorite.

Bart Johnson showed signs of brilliance, mixed in with injuries and an offbeat personality. Still, he was my first favorite White Sox player.

David Clyde is the ultimate tough baseball story. Fortunately, he is doing well and is a super great guy.

Kenny Holtzman would probably be the MVP on this team. I hated when the Cubs traded him, even though I liked Rick Monday.

Forever linked with Steve Carlton, Rick Wise put together a solid career and was a pretty good hitter, too.

Sometimes, all it took was for a player to wear glasses. John Curtis wore glasses and I was a fan.

Sometimes, all it would take was one cool baseball card and I was a fan. Reggie Cleveland had a cool 1974 card.

Barbara Eden At Motor City Comic Con 2017

Barbara Eden has had a lengthy, successful career, but to most of us, she will always be Jeannie from television's I Dream of Jeannie.  It's a role that she embraces graciously.

Cuzz and I met Eden at the Motor City Comic Con last year.  She seemed so happy and genuinely touched by the fan response there.  At almost 50 years after the show stopped producing original episodes, it is still being aired in reruns.  That speaks voumes of the quality of those shows.

Eden is easily on the Mount Rushmore of women television actresses of the 1960's.  I'd have Eden, Elizabeth Montgomery, Mary Tyler Moore and Barbara Feldon.  They all seemed so beautiful and classy.  I have been fortunate enough to meet two of them (Feldon being the other).

The Motor City Comic Con continues to bring in great celebrity guests.  I love that the MCCC usually has a handful of sitcom stars from the 1960's and 1970's.  The older fans haven't forgotten about the great stars of our youth and the younger ones get to see the stars from the reruns they have enjoyed for years.

The 2018 Motor City Comic Con is lining up guests and it promises to be another great event.  It runs from May 18-20.  You can go to MotorCityComicCon.com for more info.  Also check back here for my recurring coverage of the MCCC.

Cuzz Gekas, Barbara Eden and me in Novi, MI-May 2017.

The "Or Else" Podcast: Episode 13 POP With C Red

The newest episode of The "Or Else" podcast is up on Soundcloud. On Episode 13, POP with C Red, we talk to RPro original C Red, who was the driving force behind the POP (Positive Outreach Program).

I never knew C Red prior to RPro, but I had heard of him. Still, no story could really capture the essence of him. Clothed in red, he was quite a character in and out of the ring. I really enjoyed his work, as did the fans. C Red and da Soul Touchaz were very popular.

I remember talking to C Red about his idea for the POP program. I Immediately loved the idea and promised to help in any way I could. Having had a bit of a rough early childhood, I knew how much young students would love RPro to be involved in any way.

The first POP event was held at the Southside Occupational Academy, where C Red teaches and wonderful work is being done with students who have various challenges in their lives. I thought I would be in my usual role as reporter, but C Red informed me I would be speaking with the rest of the RPro team, which included Billy Corgan.

I was unprepared and surprised to be included, but I figured if I was going to speak, I would tell the truth. I spoke of my childhood problems and how I shouldn't even had been alive. I just figured the students needed to see that obstacles could be overcome. They needed to hear that there are many roads in life.

I started late in life as a writer/ I never expected to be part of a wrestling company. Yet, here I was, sharing a stage with the owners and other wrestlers. Even if I started younger, I could never have been a wrestler, but I could still be involved, be productive and still have a lot of fun. I wanted to tell the students that if I could be where I am today, they could make it, too.

I think my RPro team was a bit shocked at my story, since I had never told it to any of them. I've never even told it to most of my close friends or here. I simply felt I owed it to C Red and the kids to be honest and tell the whole story.

After the event, Billy brushed my handshake away in favor of a big hug. He commented that I was really a part of the RPro team at that point. That meant a lot to me.

Driving home from that event and all future OP events, I felt amazing. It's cliche, but if we affected one student in a positive way, every effort was worth it. Looking at the faces and hearing their words, I know POP touched many students.

I owe that all to RPro and specifically C Red. I hope I conveyed my appreciation properly in Episode 13 of The "Or Else" podcast. I didn't want to go into all of this on the podcast, because it was about C Red, not me. Johngy's Beat is my forum though.

In addition to POP, C Red has been a great friend. He's been great to me with interviews, casual chatting and just goofing around. You just have to like this guy!

Check out The "Or Else" podcast Episode 13: POP With CRed on Soundcloud. You can also check out all of the other episodes of The "Or Else" podcast.

Tommy Else, C Red and me in Glen Ellyn, IL-May 2018.

On the Beat With Kevin Matthews for HeroTV

The May episode of HeroTV is now airing on Comcast in the Chicago area and also on the HeroTV YouTube channel. It features radio legend Kevin Matthews.

I was a KevHead from his very first days on Chicago radio. Johnny B., Kevin and Steve and Garry got me through the day. Kev was always my favorite one though. I loved his radio program and also his work in comedy clubs, where I saw him several times. He was just so talented.

Fast forward 30+ years and the Loop is no more. Radio has changed so much. It's barely tolerable these days.

I had read a little about Kev and "The Broken Mary" project and it was a remarkable story. Earlier this year, I saw him speak at a church near me. I was brought to tears by his story.

It's better to hear it directly from Kev, but in short, he developed MC about 10 years ago. Raised a Catholic, Kev was also on a bit of a spiritual journey. It all started to come together when he found a broken statue of Mary at a flower shop, that he was guided to visit. Since then, Broken Mary has changed Kevin's life and the lives of so many. It's a powerful story that needs to be spread.

I told PL about Kevin and Broken Mary and he immediately agreed that we needed to interview him for HeroTV. I contacted Kevin and he eagerly agreed to meet us at St. Anthony's, where the Broken Mary usually resides. (In all honesty, Kevin also offered to meet us in Chicago at some point, but we thought it would be even more poignant to do it there).

Kevin couldn't have been nicer or more gracious. The quick wit is still there, but so is a real calmness. He talked so lovingly about Mary and his experiences. He eschewed talk that it is his story, instead putting the spotlight on Mary. I respectfully disagreed a bit, saying the story was really both of theirs. Kevin might also say it is everyone's story to share.

I can't tell you what this experience meant to me. Listening to Kev for so long and meeting him and having a lengthy interview with him about a topic so important, was a bit surreal, but completely wonderful.

I appreciate Kev for the many years of awesome entertainment. I hope everyone checks out BrokenMary.com to learn more about the Broken Mary Project.

Check out our interview at HeroTV2018 Kevin Matthews Part 1. Stay tuned for HeroTV 2018 Kevin Matthews Part 2 in June.

PL Myers, Kevin Matthews and me in Grand Rapids, MI-April 2018.