Happy Birthday Cuzz!

Today is Cuzz Gekas is having birthday. Join me in honoring one of my best friends on his special day.

I met Cuz through his cousins Jim and Chuck. Because two Chuck Gekases would be confusing (for my small brain), we started calling him Cuzz.

Born out of necessity, the nickname really fits him and he has embraced it fully. It seems serendipitous that it played out this way, because I can't imagine him not being Cuzz (with no disrespect to his given name).

Anyway and more importantly, Cuzz is one of the greatest people I know. As my roadtrip convention pal, Cuzz has gladly taken the role of my "producer" at the conventions and I appreciate his "work" there.

It's not just his work though. It's all else. We have trivia quizzes, silliness, deep religious conversations and more. I have learned a lot from Cuzz and I know I am a better person because of him.

One of my favorite memories from cons with Cuzz happened last year when he took the interview lead when we had with former boxer-turned-actor Jack O'Halloran. If you go to On the Beat with Jack O'Halloran at Motor City Comic Con 2018, you will see Cuzz did great. Becaus eof how much I appreciate Cuzz at these events, I always want to make sure he has fun and he has good memories. I think this interview accomplished that for him.

I always look forward to the out of town cons and hanging with Cuzz is a big part of the reason. I know it will always be totally fun.

Happy birthday Cuzz. I hope it's a great day and I look forward to our next convention!

Cuzz Gekas and me in Novi, MI-May 2018.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #398 Velvet Sky & Leva Bates

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular feature in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. To celebrate Halloween, we have a Special Edition of Celebrity Jersey Cards featuring wrestling stars Velvet Sky and Leva Bates in a version of "Who wore it better?"

The Chucky doll first came to life in 1988's Child's Play. One of Chucky's memorable lines is "I'm Chucky. Wanna play?" One can only imagine Velvet uttering those words. There is no denying that she is a real life doll though.

Leva Bates (aka Blue Pants) was trained to wrestle by Bubba and DVon Dudley. She made her wrestling debut in 2006 and is known for incorporating cosplay into her wrestling character. She could have a whole set of Celebrity Jersey Cards featuring her many costumes.

Friendly Encounters: Mark Dawson and Chris Bejcek

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

There are only a few things that can keep Chris Bejcek away from the Chicago Bandits during the season. If the Bandits are playing at home and Chris isn't in his usual seat behind home plate, chances are he is at a concert. If they would only schedule concerts while the Bandits are in their offseason, Chris would be very happy.

Earlier this summer, he missed a Bandits game for a concert. Afterwards, he met Mark Dawson, the lead vocalist and bass player for The Grass Roots. Born in Chicago, Dawson joined The Grass Roots in 2008.

With Dawson's Chicago roots, maybe there is a chance he can get the band to perform at Parkway Bank Sports Complex after a Bandits game. That actually would be the ideal scenario for Chris. He wouldn't even have to leave his seat.

The bandits season is still several months away, but it is never too early to look forward to softball. Check ChicagoBandits.com for news and updates.

Mark Dawson and Chris Nejcek in Addison, IL-June 2018.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #397 Tommy Dreamer & Joanna Jedrzejczyk

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys.  Today, we continue our alphabetical romp through Major League Baseball.

Born in Yonkers, NY, Thomas Laughlin became famous as pro wrestler Tommy Dreamer. A few years after his pro debut, Dreamer joined ECW and became a star while helping to build the company into a hugely popular promotion. Unfortunately, ECW eventually went out of business, but Dreamer kept wrestling on the indy scene, until he joined the WWE. Dreamer erned his Celebrity Jersey Card when he wore a Sox jersey to a comic con in Chicago.

Born in Poland, Joanna Jedrzejczyk is a former Muay Thai kickboxer who competes in the Ultimate Fighting Championship.Nicknames "Joanna Champion" or "Joanna Violence," she is a former strawweight champion in the UFC. She gets extra points for holding her title belt on her Celebrity Jersey Card.

Cards That Never Were: Mike Rae 1977-'80 Topps

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players missed in various sets.  It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many to list, but I appreciate all of them.

Quarterback Mike Rae played 4 seasons in the NFL. He was drafted by the Oakland Raiders in 1973, but made his NFL debut in 1976. Previous to that, he played in the Canadian Football League. After 2 seasons with the Raiders, Rae joined the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, where he played for 2 more seasons.
He later played in the USFL. He also signed with the Washington Redskins in 1981, but never played for them.
In his NFL career, he appeared in 28 games and threw for 1,536 yards and 12 touchdowns. As a backup to Ken Stabler and Doug Williams, Rae only started 8 games.
Those aren't stats that will get you on a Topps card, especially with the small football sets. Still, my fascination with backup quarterbacks and my general interest in seeing every player appear on a card led me to create "missing" cards for Rae. Surprisingly, I was able to find 3 legit action shots of Rae and the other was an in-game photo, which featured the legendary John Madden.

Wizard World Women at Wizard World St. Louis 2017

I love Wizard World.  Where else can you meet cute, fun, friendly, blue-haired women willingly posing for pictures with you without feeling like a creep?

There are always many attendees cosplaying at Wizard World.  At Wizard World in St. Louis, I met the Wizard World Women.  It's quite possible, these women (or characters, if not specifically these women) have been at other Wizard World events.  I can be oblivious at times.  In any case, this time, I got a picture with the lovely women.

My fascination with "mascots" has been well-documented (by me).  I don't know if these Wizard World Women are actually mascots, but for the sake of this subject, they serve the same purpose.

I posed the question of where else can you meet women like this, but actually it should have been "Where else can women like these not totally stand out?"  In the Wizard World convention universe, these women more blend in than stand out, no offense to their beauty, intelligence, charisma or people skills.  Wizard World is full of colorful, fun characters, as celebrity guests, cosplayers or casual attendees.

Most events wouldn't even bother to have these women mingling with the fans, but Wizard World isn't like most events.  The more the merrier.  Wizard World does everything it can to make each show a spectacle.  They could just rely on their fans to bring their inner characters to life, but they take the extra step to have these characters adding to their experience.

I love a good mascot.  Heck, I love any mascot.  Still, I have to say, two beautiful women do rank slightly higher than an unknown person in a big, furry animal costume.  Kudos to Wizard World for their take on the mascot!

The next Wizard World is in Madison, WI on November 30-December 2. Go to WizardWorld.com to get more info and all of the updates.

The Wizard World Girls and me in St. Louis, MO-April 2017.

Chicago Marathon 2018 (#25andDone)

I originally started running long distances in high school. I didn't have the talent to compete in most sports at Mt. Carmel, but I really wanted the sports jacket. For once in my life, I wanted to be associated with something athletic. I figured running might be an option.

I spent 2 years on the track and cross-country teams. The first year, I sprained an ankle, which sidelined me for most of the season. The second season, I just wasn't good enough to compete in any real track events. Still, I earned a spot on the team and rightfully (and proudly) wore my Mt. Carmel track jacket.

I eventually ran a few 5k's and 10k's with various friends. Then I heard about the Chicago Marathon. Could I possibly run 26.2 miles? Honestly, I didn't even think about it. I just figured I could.

My first attempt came in 1988. I really didn't train any harder than I had been doing. I just ran a lot and figured I would need to run a lot more that day. It was a rainy day and I lasted about 18 miles, before exhaustion won an I dropped out. The residual knee pain made me limp for about 4 months.

The next year, knowing what it took, I trained a lot harder. I finished the Marathon in just under 6 hours. My friend and work mate Louie Atsaves ran the 1990 Marathon with me and we finished together around the 6 hour mark.

I ran every year for many years. I even added Marathons in New York, Cleveland, Madison and Boston early on. New York was a blast and Boston is just so legendary (even though I did not finish in Boston).

I ran some more in Chicago, and then just stopped. I think I was just bored with it. I would never be a great Marathoner and I had proven I could do it already.

My niece Sam started running and asked about running the Chicago Marathon in 2014. I couldn't pass up that chance of running with her. Of course, I didn't actually run "with" her, as she finished well before I did. Still, it was a thrill experiencing it with her.

Last year, her (now) husband Kyle decided to run one and I once again jumped in. Unfortunately, his wedding and my surgery messed up our plans. We delayed our effort to this year.

Kyle did great this year, finishing 2+ hours ahead of me.

You can read my reports on this year's Marathon for Global Traveler at Chicago Marathon and One Final Chicago Marathon. I included more pictures there.

In short (or actually really long), I am now totally done. I have run Marathons for 30 years. I have run in 5 cities. I have finished 25. I like the roundness of those numbers. This is a great place to end.

I also will like not putting my body through that much training and stress, not to mention the (mental and physical) exhaustion of actually running a Marathon.

I have had a lot of fun and great memories. I am happy with my accomplishments, even if I never ran a great race, I at least toughed it out and finished many.

I am thinking about shorter runs again. They will be fun and they will help keep me in shape.

The picture below is proof that I finished. It is also proof that I am too cheap to purchase the overpriced pictures that were taken and offered by the Marathon. #25andDone

Me in Chicago, IL-October 2018.

Larry Hisle at PopCon Milwaukee 2017

Larry Hisle was an outfielder with the Philadelphia Phillies, Minnesota Twins and Milwaukee Brewers from 1968-1982. He logged in 1,146 hits for a .273 batting average.

I had the pleasure of meeting Larry at PopCon Milwaukee last year. His booth was next to Fergie Jenkins.

I liked the symmetry, as both were with the Phillies organization, although never teammates. Still, obviously they knew each other from then, as well as their long careers. They faced each other 55 times over the years, with Hisle getting 11 hits for a .200 average with 2 homers and 14 rbi's.

Another bit of a connection is that Hisle got one win while pitching in the Phillies minor leagues..He got two strike outs in one inning for the win in his only pitching performance.

I talked to Hisle about his time on the mound, facing Jenkins, playing for the Brewers and more. Hisle only played 9 games in 1982 and missed the World Series with the team.

Hisle was a class act. He was thankful for being remembered. He was having a good time reconnecting with Jenkins and seeing his many fans. Hisle was especially appreciated because the show was in Milwaukee.

I love players like Hisle. He was never a superstar, but he had a solid career. I first knew him with the Twins, after I received his 1974 Topps card. I really liked those Brewers teams, especially since the Chicago teams were so mediocre in those days. I wish he could have logged in that World Series, but at least he was part of the team.

PopCon Milwaukee returns this Saturday and Sunday. Wesley Eure, Kathy Coleman, Spencer Milligan and Phil Paley from the "Land of the Lost" will be there, as well as former QB Dave Krieg, wrestling legends HillBilly Jim and Jake "The Milkman" Milligan, former baseball player Felix Mantilla, Barry Williams and more. Check PopConMilwaukee.com for more info.

Larry Hisle and me in Milwaukee, WI-November 2017.

Four Star Heroes at Wizard World 2013

I first encountered Chris Castro and Matt Knicks at Resistance Pro Wrestling. They performed as The 2 Star Heroes, who were on the lower end of the wrestling card, often in dark matches (matches held before the official card starts).

Chris and Matt were nice guys and talented performers. Chris was a big man, with somewhat surprising athletic skills. Matt was smaller, but a skilled wrestler. They worked well together in the ring and had a lot of personality.

They worked hard at their craft and eventually moved up the card. They became fan favorites at RPro. They never captured the tag titles, but they remained popular throughout their run. Eventually, the pair was split (a bad move in my opinion).

The pair left RPro, but resurfaced as the 4 Star Heroes in the newly created Freelance Wrestling. They were a huge part of Freelance Wrestling, which became the hot new organization in the area. Freelance has been going strong from the debut.

The world of wrestling is funny. Castro and Knicks eventually made a return to RPro after Freelance ran a joint show with RPro. It was great to see these guys again.

I always liked Knicks and Castro. They worked hard to improve and earned everything they got. They could have easily been lost in the RPro shuffle, but their skills and effort wouldn't allow that.

I applaud these guys fro all that they have done. Freelance Wrestling has proven to be a success and they also wrestle in other organizations. They have done well in the business and I am very happy for them.

You can check out Freelance Wrestling at FreelanceWrestling.com. You can also follow Freelance Wrestling on Facebook.

Chris Castro, Matt Knicks and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2013.

Friendly Encounters: Rachael Ellering and Tommy Else

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

Earlier this year, on The "Or Else" podcast, Tommy Else and I started reliving his six year journey through Resistance Pro.  It has been a lot of fun recalling so many great memories.

One of the things I forgot was that Rachael Ellering was the RPro Women's champ from November of 2016 to September of 2017.  A variety of factors came into my lack of immediate recall.  I missed a few RPro events due to my throat surgery.  Rachael missed a few RPro shows due to her busy schedule.  Also, I'm old and I forget.

Anyway, co-hosting Tommy's podcast reminded me of Rachael's stay in RPro.

I thought Rachael was very talented, but a little inexperienced (primarily because she had only been wrestling for less than a year).  It was easy to see she had potential.  She had athletic ability, a good look and charisma.  She also had an interest in learning.  I saw her working on her craft either in the ring or in talking to veterans at the shows.

Rachael has had stints in the WWE and Impact Wrestling.  She will have a bright future in the ring, if she chooses to stay on that path.

I am grateful to Rachael for her kindness during her time at RPro.  I am grateful to Tommy for bringing me on his podcast and allowing me to relive the RPro experience.  If you haven't listened to Tommy's podcast, you really should.

Rachael Ellering and Tommy Else in Summit, IL-September 2017.

Congrats to Ego!

Over the years, I have seen hundreds of wrestlers on the independent scene. Robert "The Ego" Anthony stood out from the first time I saw him and he continues to be one of my favorites.

I have had the pleasure of watching him up close, during his time in Resistance Pro Wrestling. I still think he was the best champ in their history and he certainly deserves a spot on their Mt. Rushmore (as I have previously discussed).

Ego has it all. He is a pro inside and outside of the ring. I have always said he should be in the WWE.

Actually, he did spend time in the WWE developmental system. I think it has been more Ego

s decision not to be there now, but that's just my guess.

A couple weeks ago, while WWE Raw was live in Chicago, I was pleasantly surprised when I saw Ego enter the ring. It was more an entertainment segment than actual match, but I was happy for Ego, especially since it is his hometown and also since his young son got to see him on television.

Ego has some detractors for various reasons, but I can't say a bad thing about him. He always treated me well. He even went above and beyond to talk to a friend's young son during a rough time for  the kid. I will always appreciate him for that.

I don't know if this will be Ego's last time in the big spotlight. I do hope to see him more on the indty scene in Chicago. I know if Ego is on the card, I will be treated to one great match.

Thank you, Ego, for years of entertainment and for helping a teen in need. Congrats on another oment on the big stage!

Robert Anthony (in mask and red and blue tights) in Chicago, IL-October 2018.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #396 Lindsay Whalen & Sylvia Fowles

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Today, we feature players from the Minnesota Lynx of the WNBA, while working our way alphabetically through MLB.

Lindsay Whalen was a star player at the University of Minnesota. She was selected with the #4 pick by the Connecticut Sun in the 2004 WNBA draft. After 6 seasons with the Sun, Whalen joined the Minnesota Lynx and has played there ever since. She also played in the 2012 Summer Olympics, earning a gold medal, and was recently named as the head coach at her alma mater. Whalen took part on the Twins salute to the Lynx, thus earning her Celebrity Jersey Card

Sylvia Fowles starred at LSU, prior to being selected #2 by the Chicago Sky in the 2008 WNBA draft. After 7 seasons with the Sky, she was traded to the Lynx. Fowles won gold medals in the 2008 and 2012 Summer Olympics. Like her Lynx teammate, Fowles earned her Celebrity Jersey Card when the Twins had a special Lynx Night.

Northwestern Fall Ball

I spent a couple weekends at Northwestern soaking in the last bits of softball for this year. Northwestern's Fall Ball is always a fun time, giving fans a chance to get a preview of the next season.

The Wildcats had a good and exciting season in 2018. They had a nice run in the NCAA playoffs. A few years back, I never imagined watching a collegiate women's softball team on television, yet there I was cheering on Team Purple.

Fall Ball 2018 featured 6 games, although one was rained out. The games are exhibition, but obviously are important to the players.

The 2019 Wildcats will have 3 returning seniors, infielder Lily Novak, infielder Morgan Nelson and pitcher Haley Winegarner. There will also be 8 first year players.

Those "rookies" probably benefit most from these Fll Ball games. It is a chance for them to showcase their skills a bit, while getting a feel for the field and the dynamics of Northwestern University.

The 2019 season starts in February, but the first month or so are away games. They finally start playing home games in mid-March and play through mid-May, with the playoffs wrapping up at the end of May (just as the Chicago Bandits to start playing).

I will be "On the Beat" next season and I really am looking forward to it. It's always a bit cold, but the signs of spring are there and softball always warms up the crowd.

Check out NUSports.com for more info on the NU Wildcats softball team. You can also check here for recurring coverage.

Maegan Hollins, Haley Winegarner and me in Evanston, IL-October 2018.

Gritz and Project '62

A funny thing happened to me at a Chicago Bandits game last season. As I was meandering around the concourse, someone approached me, saying he finally got to meet me. I had no idea who he was on sight, but when he introduced himself I immediately knew him.

Gritz is the creative force behind Project '62. Ironically, he started Project '62 a couple weeks after I started Johngy's Beat. His first post featured Former Chicago Cubs Ron Santo and Jim Brewer.

He stated his goal as simply to chronicle his attempt to put together the 1962 set. He was self-effacing in stating that he figured nobody would be reading the blog. He was funny, but wrong about that. I always read Project '62, as did many others.

For me, the 1962 set was before my birth. I have seen many of the cards over the years, but it was interesting to see the cards posted, along with his insight. While his focus was the 1962 set, he did stray to other interesting topics.

All good things come to an end though. Gritz stopped updating Project '62 in 2016. Despite the lack of new content, there is still plenty of good reading material. He had a great 8 year run. He is still active and can be followed at @_Gritz_ on twitter.

Gritz and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

RIP Roscoe Lindsey

I had this scheduled as a separate bit about a favorite teacher wearing my Johngy's Beat shirt. Unfortunately, it now is an RIP piece about that teacher.

Roscoe Lindsey was my senior year English teacher at Mt. Carmel High School. It's not nostalgia which makes me think fondly of Mr. Lindsey. I considered him a favorite back in the day.

Obviously, he was an African American, but color was never an issue with him. He saw us all as one and we never saw color with him either. He was just a man who was always there for us.

English class was fun (or as fun as it could be) with him. He taught, without nagging. I still remember one of his favorite quotes. “Merely corroborative detail, intended to give artistic verisimilitude to an otherwise bald and unconvincing narrative” was a quote by W.S. Gilbert. Why I remember a quote from 35 years ago speaks of the impact that he had.

Several years ago, thanks to the wonderful world of Facebook, I reconnected with Roscoe. Well, actually, I connected with Rocco. I forget the exact path, but at some point, he started becoming known as "Rocco." I think the story was that there was a misunderstanding of his name and it just stuck. That would be typical of him. It didn't matter. Rocco or Roscoe or Mr. Lindsay, he was just a good-hearted man.

We exchanged messages on occasion. Sometimes I would toss a grammar question his way. Sometimes he would ask me about former students. Unfortunately, a few times we shared the passing of former students.

A few weeks ago, one of his relatives posted that he had a heart attack and had passed. At 63, Roscoe was gone. I'll miss our exchanges and I'll miss just knowing that this good man was walking among us.

RIP Roscoe "Rocco" Lindsey. You left quite a legacy and made an impact. You will be missed.

Roscoe Lindsey on the East coast-November 2012.

Parker Stevenson at REWind Con 2016

Parker Stevenson had been acting for a few years and was starting to build an excellent resume, when he was cast as elder brother Frank Hardy in television's The Hardy Boys/Nancy Drew Mysteries.  The show, which co-starred Shaun Cassidy, was vry popular over the three season run.

Stevenson has kept busy acting since then, but he has also followed his passion of photography.  You can check out his work and get more info at ParkerStevensonShadowWorks.com.

I had the pleasure of interviewing him a few years back and that can be found at On the Beat With Parker Stevenson.  Last year, at REWind Con, we talked to him about his photography.  Actually, it started as he gave us tips when we were taking pictures with him.  It's not often I get tips from a real professional photographer, especially one as famous as Stevenson.  His work is outstanding.  He is not just an actor with a hobby.

He's also a nice guy.  He talked with us for several minutes, even remembering me from the interview years ago.  I look forward to seeing him again and hopefully doing an update interview.

Parker Stevenson and me in Bloomingdale, IL-November 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Madusa and Heather Owens

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

People who go to comic cons (or similar) meet lots of celebrities. Generally speaking, you will meet celebrities who mean something to you. On occasion, you will meet celebrities who really mean a lot to you. Such was the case earlier this year when Hardcore Heather Owens met wrestling legend Madusa at Days of the Dead.
Heather has been a fixture on the indy wrestling scene for several years. She's a hard worker, who can work either side, but is probably better as a villain. Outside of the ring though, Heather is an absolute sweetheart.
Heather is one of the unsung heroes at Days of the Dead. She is always busy making sure things run smoothly. While she is always a blur of activity, she always has time for a picture with her fans (like me) who recognize her there.
Heather has been a big fan of WWE Hall of Fame wrestler Madusa. I'll let her express herself here though.
What a sweetheart! 💕 Madusa is such an inspiration and just a super down to earth Classy Broad ❤ Sooo...if you are at DAYS OF THE DEAD right now...you NEED to meet her. DO IT! 🤗
The funny thing is that I could use those exact words to describe Heather. I have seen her at wrestling shows. I see the response she gets.
Basically, I would say these are two #ClassyBroads and 2 real sweethearts.
Days of the Dead returns to Chicago November 16-18. Check DaysoftheDead.com for more info. Heather will be ther, as will plenty of other celebrities. Of course, I'll be "On the Beat" as usual.

Madusa and Heather Owens in Indianapolis, IN-June 2018.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #395 Ashley Broad & Lupe Fiasco

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

Detroit's very own Ashley Gold gained fame on tv's Hardcore Pawn. Seemingly always at odds with brother Seth, Ashley's tv persona was much different than the sweet woman I met at Motor City Comic Con. Ashley borrowed some stuff from the family-owned American Jewelry and Loan for her Celebrity Jersey Card.

Wasalu Muhammad Jaco was born in Chicago, but grew to fame as rapper Lupe Fiasco. During his career, he has received mulpitpl Grammy nominations. With no known connection to Detroit, I am guess his Celebrity Jersey Card came from an appearance in Motown, although maybe he just wore the jersey for a random show elsewhere. Either way, I like the "green-ness" of this card.

Mad Magazine's Tom Richmond Loves Johngy's Beat

At the recent Wizard World Chicago 2018, I caught up with Tom Richmond, one of my favorite creators. Tom is perhaps best known for his caricature work in Mad magazine. I am the proud owner of an original piece of his, as his version of The Johngy hangs on my wall at home.

After our chat, Tom was kind enough to cut a promo for Johngy's Beat. Thank you, Tom, for your kindness over the years, for this promo and especially for The Johngy!

Mickie Knuckles and The Resistance Are Back

The Resistance recently announced their next show. The Resistance Chapter IV Silent Night, Deadly Night will take place on December 1 in Summit, IL. It will feature all hardcore matches.

When you think of hardcore, Mickie Knuckles must come to mind. Mickie will be bringing her years of hardcore experience to The Resistance for Silent Night, Deadly Night. She won't be coming alone though. She'll be teaming with Jacob Black in an inter-gender tag team battle.

As hardcore as these two are, they will not have an easy night. Maria Manic and SHLAK are no strangers to the world of hardcore wrestling. Maria was very impressive in her last appearance for The Resistance. That was at Death Becomes Her, the 8 woman Death Match tournament.

I have seen Mickie wrestle many times and I am always impressed. While she can go hardcore all night long (see the previously mentioned Death Becomes Her video), she is also quite capable of old school technical wrestling. That makes her a total package and a dominant force.

I have not seen Maria wrestle, but her reputation is solid. I have heard rave reviews from everyone at Death Becomes Her.

Jacob Black and Shlak are not to be overlooked either. These men will make their presence felt, too.

In all, this match shapes up to be a slobberknocker of a blood bath.

There is more good news, too. This is only one of the several matches for the night. It's going to be a fun, hardcore night.

You can get more information on Silent Night, Deadly Night on The Resistance Facebook page. You can also find these wrestlers on social media, including Mickie Knuckles on twitter, Maria Manic on twitter and SHLAK on twitter.

Mickie Knuckles and me (with Erin Morris) in Chicago, IL-September 2014.

Colin Lawler at C2E2 2017

Cartoonist, illustrator, comic book artist Colin Lawler is another talented creator I have met at C2E2. Colin has done sequential art, logo design, watercolors, commissions and more.

He is extremely talented and a cool guy. He states he wants to "befriend a dinosaur, consume a strict diet of ice cream and cookies, use a jetpack as my primary means of transportation, live in a lighthouse, and spend my days drawing stories." I'm not sure about his progress on most of those, but I do know he does spend a lot of days drawing stories.

One such story that he is drawing is the ongoing comic Spirits: The Soul Collector on Webtoons. It is an all-ages, fantasy comic produced by Colin and Joseph Grabowski. It is described as being about the force and energy of life. It focuses on the lives of Norah and Will, a pair of seers.

Check out ColinLawler.com for all of the info on Colin. You can also follow Colin on twitter for regular updates and fun. Also, go to C2E2.com for the info, including scheduling and guest lists for C2E2 2019.

Colin Lawler and me in Chicago, IL-April 2017.

Butch Patrick at Wizard World St. Louis 2017

Wizard World Madison 2018 starts next Thursday, November 30 and runs through Sunday, Sunday, December 2. With Wizard World fast approaching, I am featuring some of the many great moments I have had there.

Butch Patrick rose to fame as Eddie Munster on tv's The Munsters back in the 1960's.  He appeared on a lot of other series as a youngster, but found little work as an adult actor.  Thanks to the nostalgia craze and comic cons, Patrick became more active over the last 20 years or so.  My interview with Patrick from a con can be found at On the Beat With Butch Patrick.

After years of bad times, Patrick started to be on the rebound, but prostate cancer knocked him back a bit.  Fortunately, it seems the cancer was found early enough and Patrick was given a very good chance of full recovery.

Patrick is an excellent guest at cons.  He embraces his role that made him famous and also his place in pop culture.  He makes the most out of these cons and gives the fans a real feelgood from meeting him.  I have met him several times and he has always been in a great mood.  I hope to see him again this year.

Check out WizardWorld.com to get all of the info on the next Wizard World near you. Maybe you'll see Patrick. You might even see me!

Butch Patrick and me in St. Louis, MO-April 2017.

Ric Flair at Days of the Dead Chicago 2016

"The Nature Boy" Ric Flair is one of the greatest professional wrestlers of all time.  Thanks to Days of the Dead, I have had the pleasure of meeting him several times and actually spending some time with him.

Days of the Dead main man Adolfo Dorta gets credit for putting together a fantastic con that first started in July of 2011 in Indianapolis.  It currently also runs in Chicago, Atlanta, Louisville and Charlotte (which is Flair country, of course).  Adolfo also get some backlash for having wrestlers at DotD.

I might not be totally objective, but any criticism for bringing in wrestlers is completely unfair.  Despite my potential bias, I can also point to the huge lines that the wrestlers draw.

One of the great things about DotD is that they have remained true to their roots.  Despite growing into a big series of yearly events, Adolfo always has room for me as part of the press, when he could just take the bigger media outlets.

So how does bringing in wrestlers to a horror con stay true to the roots?  DotD is all about the fans.  When we interviewed Adolfo for HeroTV, he talked about video recording the line when Shawn Michaels was at an event.  The video lasted eight minutes.  Adolfo wouldn't bring in wrestlers if the DotD crowd didn't want them.  Unfortunately, a few grouches can be a vocal bunch.  The bottom line is the wrestlers do not take away anything from the con for those who don't like them, but they add a lot for those of us who welcome them, including me.

Meeting GFlair at DotD was a great experience.  I always arrive early, when the crowds are just forming.  I was lucky enough to talk to Flair for several minutes before it got too crowded.  The man is highly entertaining.  He was larger than life, but he was also very personable.  I can guarantee that the several hundred fans who met him were very satisfied.

The next DotD will be in Louisville and I am sure there will be several wrestlers on the celebrity list.  There will also be a few among the fans, perhaps including Mike Bucci (aka Nova, Dimon Dean etc).

You can watch our interview with Adolfo at HeroTV 2018: Episode 8 Days of the Dead.  Also, check out DaysoftheDead.com for all of the news, updates and more for this great convention.

Ric Flair and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2016.

Friendly Encounters: Gene Simmons and Carrie Gedeon

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

Today we are featuring a superstar and a pretty good musician, too. The superstar is Carrie Gedeon, of course. If you don't believe me, ask anyone with the Days of the Dead conventions. Carrie rocks!

As promoter Adolfo Dorta's partner in life and in the shows, Carrie has been a huge part of the DotD scene the last few years. She coordinates the volunteers and does many other things to keep everything running smoothly. She is a tireless worker and a total sweetheart.

Gene Simmons is a tireless worker, too. His musical career is legendary and his other business ventures keep him quite busy, but probably not as busy as Carrie during DotD events.

These two stars met at the recent DotD in Indianapolis and I was there to witness it.  Of course, she did get a picture with Simmons. I'm not sure who was more excited. Carrie is a big fan, but Simmons had some fun with her in the picture.

Actually Simmons was great with all of the fans. Obviously, photo ops have time constraints, but Simmons did the best he could and was very friendly with all of the fans. He even did some pose requests.

Simmons was very professional throughout the whole convention. According to Adolfo, he was great in the whole process of agreeing to do DotD. When a promoter praises a celebrity guest like that, I take it as fact, especially if it is Adolfo. He always deals straight. When he says Simmons was awesome, I believe it. 

When she wasn't with Simmons, Carrie was her usual busy self, but she always has a smile on her face. She's the perfect partner to Adolfo and a great asset to DotD. Somehow things always seem better when Carrie is around.

Check out DaysoftheDead.com for info on the next event. The next event will be in Chicago November 18-20.

Gene Simmons and Carrie Gedeon in Indianapolis, IN-June 2018.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #394 Eric Stonestreet & James Van Der Beek

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

Eric Stonestreet might be best known for his role on tv's Modern Family. A native of Kansas City, KS, Stonestreet attended Kansas State University and is a huge fan of Kansas City sports teams. He even wore the powder blues when he made an appearance on Jimmy Kimmel's show to earn his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Born in Connecticut, James Van Der Beek rose to fame as an actor, most notably on tv's Dawson's Creek. Van Der Beek participates in a lot of charitable events, including many baseball-related ones. He's not afraid of getting dirty while playing either, as seen on his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Cards That Never Were: Mark Moseley 1987 Topps

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players missed in various sets.  It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many others to list, but I appreciate them all.
Kicker Mark Moseley was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 1970 NFL Draft.  He played in Philadelphia for the 1970 season, then joined the Houston Oilers for 1971 amd 1972.  He did not play in 1973.  He joined the Washington Redskins for the 1974 season and played there until midway through the 1986 season.  He finished his career with a few games with the Cleveland Browns.
Moseley appeared on a 1971 Topps card, but then did not reappear until the 1975 set.  He then stayed on Topps cards through the 1986 set.  Therefore, he is missing cards for 1972, '73 and '87.
I could only find one picture of Moseley with the Oilers and that was an oddly cropped Sunoco card, which I could not make into a Topps card.  I did create a 1987 "career capper" for Moseley.  I also will keep an eye out for any shot of him with the Oilers to finish his card run.

Breast Cancer Awareness and the Chicago Bandits

October is Breast Cancer Awareness month. Obviously, the Chicago Bandits do not play in October, but they still do their part for the cause.

Every season, the wear special pink jerseys for a couple games. Those jerseys are then auctioned with the money going to the cause.

Last season, I won an auction for Lacey Waldrop's jersey. Lacey was kind enough to sign it and pose with me after a later game.

On Facebook, I am in the Custom Baseball Cards group, in which people (sometimes even me) create virtual trading cards. Most of the time, these creations either replace bad looking cards from the past or give cards to players missed in sets. Recently, David Garcia posted his creation dedicated to Breast Cancer Awareness. David was kind enough to make a card of Lacey for me. I greatly appreciate is effort.

For more info on Breast Cancer Awareness, check out NationalBreastCancer.org. Also, go to ChicagoBandits.com for all of the info on Chicago's National Pro Fastpitch team. Come out to a game next season, especially for "Pink" night.

Lacey Waldrop and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

Cards That Never Were: Craig Bradshaw 1981 Topps

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players missed in various sets.  It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many to list, but I appreciate all of their efforts.

How did I never know that Terry Bradshaw had a brother who played in the NFL?  I live for stuff like this, yet somehow missed this familial connection.

Craig Bradshaw played college ball at Louisiana Tech and Utah State.  He was selected by the Houston Oilers in the eighth round of the 1980 NFL Draft.  His stats show that he appeared in two games with no other statistics in 1980.  I assume he played quarterback but only handed off in his two games.  He faced brother Terry in one of those games.  They became the first sibling quarterbacks to ever play against each other in an NFL game.  That was the extent of his NFL career.

It is easy to understand why Topps did not give Craig a card.  Two games rarely merit a card, even if your brother is a future Hall of Fame QB.  I couldn't pass the opportunity to give Craig a card, especially with this great picture of him and Terry.

I'm happy with the card, but still bugged by why I never heard of Craig until recently.  He's the answer to a fun trivia question, he was a backup QB during my prime watching time and he is Terry's brother.  All of these should have put him on my radar.  I also question why I never have heard Terry mention him.  It's all a mystery to me, but at least I filled a card void.

Heroes and Legends Wrestling Fanfest and Jayson Maples

A couple years ago, I attended the Heroes and Legends Wrestling Fanfest in Fort Wayne. I totally had a great time, but scheduling conflicts prevented me from returning to another one. I have plans to change that with the next Heroes and Legends Wrestling Fanfest on Saturday, October 27.

Jayson is a really good guy. I do see him regularly at Days of the Dead when he brings in various wrestlers at his booth. At the DotD event in Indy earlier this year, he brought in WWE Hall of Famer Madusa. Having been a fan of hers from her time in the AWA back in the 1980's, I had wanted to meet her for the longest time. Jayson delivered and Madusa was fantastic.

The Heroes and Legends Wrestling Fanfest features many wrestlers as celebrity guests, along with an excellent night of wrestling matches. As of this writing, those matches include my bud Sugar Dunkerton versus the Ultimo Dragon with Sonny Onoo. That alone would sell tickets.

The star-studded wrestler celebrity guest lineup includes Kevin Nash, Terry Taylor, Demolition, Sgt. Slaughter, Swoggle and Brian Pillman Jr. Vendor guests include Mark Henry, Jeff Jarrett, Teddy Long, Jim Cornette, Doink, the Rock 'N' Roll Express, Francine, Justin Credible, Madison Rayne and Virgil.

Wow! That is a lot of wrestling talent past and present. That's a lot of talent in and out of the ring. Just meeting them all will take some logistic planning, but it'll all be part of the fun. It's one month away and I can't wait.

Check HeroesandLegendsWrestling.com for more info on this fun event. Hopefully, I'll see many of you there.

Jayson Maples and me in Indianapolis, IN-June 2018.

Chicago Dogs 2018

The Chicago Dogs finished their first season with a record of 45-54, good for 4th place in the North Division of the American Association. Overall, they had the 8th best record in the league. That is pretty good for a debut season.

For the season, the pitching was a bit better than the batting. Statistically, the pitching generally ranked in the upper section of the leaderboards, while the batting was in the lower half. The Dogs did lead the league in fielding percentage. The Dogs finished with an average attendance of 2,954, the 7th best in the AA.

At a pre-season Media Day, I talked to Scott Barnes and Tony Roselli. In 16 games, pitcher Scott Barnes was 2-4, with an ERA of 4.46. In 60 games, Roselli hit .240, with 8 homers, 21 rbi's and 24 runs scored.

Overall, this debut season has to be considered a success. In Chicago, with so many entertainment options, they averaged almost 3,000 people per game, while being competitive all season. The future looks bright for the Dogs and I look forward to returning to Impact Field next season.

For more info on the Dogs, head to ChicagoDogs.com. You can also go to AmericanAssociationVaseball.com for info on all teams and the league.

Scott Barnes, Tony Rosselli and me in Rosemont, IL-May 2018.

Friendly Encounters: Barry Bostwick and Dirk Manning

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

I have met actor Barry Bostwick a few times. Our interview can be found at On the Beat With Barry Bostwick. That interview was one of the mist fun ones I have had. Bostwick was awesome and he continued to be great every other time I met him.

I met writer Dirk Manning many years ago. My interviews with him can be found at On the Beat With Dirk Manning.

At Wizard World Columbus 2017, these two met up and that photo landed here. I love this pic, because Dirk is a pop culture fan and doesn't hide it. I love that Bostwick took the pic with Dirk, but he didn't do Dirk's trademark pose. Hmm. Maybe as an actor, Bostwick did not want to steal Bostwick's gimmick?

In either case, they are clearly having fun. This is the stuff I love seeing at Wizard World. Two of my favorites appeared together. Two notable creators from totally different fields joined together for a picture. I love seeing the various crossovers at Wizard World.

There are still a few Wizard World events left in the year. Check WizardWorld.com for the schedule and other information. Also go to DirkManning.com to learn more about this talented guy.

Dirk Manning and Barry Bostwick in Columbus, OH-August 2017.