Dejah Mulipola of Team USA

Born in California, Dejah Mulipola stars on the softball field at the University of Arizona. The Polynesian-American is a right-handed hitting catcher.

Over her first three seasons, in 181 games, Dejah is hitting .320 with 47 home runs, 140 rbi's and 139 runs scored with a .672 slugging percentage. In 2018, she was a Second-Team All-Pac-12 selection and in 2019, she was a First-Team All-Pac-12 selection. 

On the international scene, she was a Gold Medalist at the 2019 Pan American games and also at the Japan Cup. She also was a 2018 USA Softball International Cup Bronze Medalist.

Last year, Dejah was selected to be a member of the 2020 Olympic team. In July, Dejah will join her Team USA mates in Tokyo to go for the gold.

I have previously written how excited I am about the softball games at the Olympics. Although I am not much of a fan of the Olympics in general, I will be watching Team USA softball. Over the last few years of covering the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits and Northwestern and DePaul's softball teams, I have fallen in love with the sport  and I have gotten to know many of the members of Team USA.

Because she is in college out west, I don't know Dejah very well. I only met her last summer when Team USA was in Rosemont for a week of training and exhibition games. I talked to her briefly and she is super-excited about being part of Team USA.

Go to TeamUSA.org for more info on the USA Olympic team. Follow Dejah on Instagram.

Dejah Mulipola and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2019.

Kelly Campbell and the 9-0 DePaul Blue Demons

I was back "On the Beat" as the DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team defeated Georgetown 92-66. The Demons are 9-0 in 1st place in the Big East Conference and 19-2 overall and ranked #11 in the country.

My coverage began with DePaul Blue Demons Women's B-ball Rolls to 9-0 on Patch.com. I will continue covering the team through the Big East Conference tournament which will be played at Wintrust Arena March 3-6.

Senior guard Kelly Campbell had a great game, scoring 17 points with seven rebounds and seven assists. In the post-game media session, one reporter asked Coach Bruno about the possibility of Campbell getting a triple double. Coach Bruno replied that his goal is the win and getting his bench some valuable game time.

Immediately upon is response, Coach Bruno apologized if he sounded harsh (which he didn't). Coach Bruno thanked the reporter for his coverage and questions.

This is a perfect example of the appreciation Coach Bruno and the team has for the coverage. They are drawing nice crowds at McGrath-Phillips Arena on DePaul's campus, but fans need to fill Wintrust for the Big East Conference tournament.

A senior, Campbell is averaging eight points and 7.8 rebounds.a game. Her season highs are 15 points, 14 rebounds and 11 assists. Her veteran leadership is a huge part of the success of this team. She is also very fan friendly, as I have talked to her a few times after the game and even asked (bothered) her for a couple selfies along the way.

The Blue Demons return to action this Friday as they host Creighton at Wintrust Arena. They also play Sunday at Wintrust, as they host Providence. You can go to DePaulBlueDemons.com for more info. Of course, I will also provide recurring coverage here and for Global Traveler and the Patch.

Kelly Campbell and me in Chicago, IL-January 2020.

The Squared Circle Expo Is Coming

The Squared Circle Expo is debuting in Indianapolis May 29-30. It is four months away and I am already excited. I wrote about the debut at Squared Circle Expo Debuts May 29-30 in Indy on Patch.com.

The first wave of wrestling guests has been announced. Appearing will be Kane, Rey Mysterio, Christian, Vickie Guerrero, Al Snow, Demolition, Billy Gunn, Darby Allen and the Highlanders. That is just the beginning, but it is already a great lineup.

I love the entire initial list, but Kane (aka Glen Jacobs) is the most intriguing to me. A pro wrestler since 1992, Jacobs survived a couple less successful gimmicks, before emerging as Kane, the Undertaker's brother in 1997. Since then, Jacobs has built a Hall of Fame career, winning many title belts. If Undertaker is the best character ever, Kane has to be close behind.

Jacobs is successful outside of the ring, too. Very politically-minded, Jacobs was elected Mayor of Knox County, TN in 2018. He is also the author of Mayor Kane: My Life in Wrestling and Politics.

I had the pleasure of meeting Jacobs a couple years back. He had long been on my "want" list. I am very excited about seeing Jacobs again at the Squared Circle Expo.

While I am featuring Jacobs today, the other announced guests are equally intriguing to me. I will be providing recurring updates on the Squared Circle Expo leading up to this great event. I will report on the latest announcements, including new wrestling guests and events.

Go to SquaredCircleX.com for all of the info on this great event. Also follow Squared Circle Expo on Facebook for more frequent updates. Check these sites, along with Johngy's Beat and Patch.com for new. I hope to see a lot of my friends there!

Glen Jacobs and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2018.

Marv Levy and George Castle Are Champions!

I met George Castle in the late 80s at Lerner Newspapers where we both worked. George was the sportswriter and I worked in the Circulation Department. Over the years, we worked together on several projects, including a few trivia contests and book promotions.

After we both left Lerner, George and I stayed in touch. A few years back, we worked together again on a book project. Champions: 15 Inspiring Comeback Stories from Sports & Life is a book featuring some courageous athletes and George brilliantly captured their stories. Chicagoan and NFL Hall of Famer Marv Levy wrote the forward.

I had the pleasure of interviewing George and Marv at a book-signing appearance. That interview can be found at On the Beat With George Castle and Marv Levy. It was a pleasure to interview them. Marv is a class act and a real legend. George is an incredibly talented author and a good friend.

George has an endless supply of baseball knowledge. I have never seen anyone with his recall and acumen. It's amazing. Several of George's books are on my book shelf. Every book of George's is entertaining and I guarantee you they are all thorough.

Check out the George Castle author page on Amazon for info on all his books.

George Castle, Marv Levy and me in Chicago, IL-July 2017.

Friend Encounters: Timothy Zahn and Ashley Prester

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

I met Ashley Prester through my friend Jason Fleigel, who has been friends with him for years. I have joined the two at a few conventions over the years. I hope to be at the New York Comic Con next year with Ashley. A couple years back, I helped JayHawk and Ash get a pic with the now-deceased Carrie Fisher.

Earlier this year, Ashley came to Chicago for a Star Wars convention. Since beyond the first three movies, I'm not a huge fan of the Star Wars franchise, I didn't go to that con. Looking at their social media pages, JayHawk and Ash had a great time.

While they aren't mainly focused on meeting celebrities like I am, Ash did meet writer Timothy Zahn.  He is best known for the Thrawn series of Star Wars novels. In reference to meeting Zahn, Ash posted, "Mr. Zahn is a delightful person to talk to and an incredibly talented author."

As happy as Ash looks with Zahn, he looked even happier with the stuff he bought at the convention. JayHawk and Ash could probably combine to create quite a Star Wars museum.

Hopefully later this year, Ash and I will team up at NYCC. I know he is definitely going. Either way, we will have some coverage here on Johngy's Beat.

Ashley Prester and Timothy Zahn in Chicago, IL-April 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #464 Amy Freeze & D.B. Sweeney

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series in which I create virtual; trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. While we wait a week for the Super Bowl, we take a break from football.

Born in Utah and raised in Indiana, Amy Freeze has a great name for a Meteorologist. After a successful run as the first female Chief Meteorologist in Chicago, Freeze has been with ABC in New York since 2011. During her time in Chicago, she dropped the ceremonial puck for the Chicago Wolves to earn her Celebrity Jersey Card.

Daniel Bernard Sweeney was born in New York and rose to fame in Hollywood, acting as D.B. Sweeney. Since the mid-1980s. Sweeney has kept busy on television and motion pictures. Somewhere during that time, he dropped a ceremonial puck for the Chicago Wolves and landed on a Celebrity Jersey Card. Patrick Cannone of the Wolves and Jake Chelios of the Charlotte Checkers are the players.

Mascot Week: Swampee

Mascot Week continues as we head down to Florida. We feature Swampee of the ECHL Florida Everblades.

Founded in 1998, the Everblades are the minor league affiliate of the NHL's Nashville Predators. The name obviously refers to the Florida Everglades. The team colors of blue and green were selected by Carolina Hurricanes owner Peter Karmanos Jr. to pay homage to the Hartford Whalers. The Hurricanes were  the team's NHL affiliate for their first 21 years of existence.

I could not find specific info on the actual mascot. The alligator logo has been around since the debut of the Everglades, but I cannot confirm when Swampee debuted.

I met Swampee a few years ago on a trip to my sister's place in Florida. I was a bit surprised  at the popularity of the Everblades, but team success helps. The Everblades have only missed the playoffs one time in their existence.

Swampee and me in FL-March 2017.

Mascot Week: Arli Arlington

Today, Mascot Week brings us to Arli Arlington, the mascot for Arlington International in Arlington Heights, IL. Fittingly, Arli is a horse.

Again, getting information on a mascot has been challenging. I know he goes back to at least 2016, because I met him at the birthday celebration for Swiper, the mascot of the Chicago Bandits.

Since Arli is a horse, you'd think he could lend some insight into the other horses racing at the track. Unfortunately, Arli was of no help to me when I met him. I didn't want to "nag" him. He seemed to be having a lot of fun "horsing" around with the other mascots.

Go to ArlingtonPark.com for more info on the race track and maybe you can find more info on Arli. If anyone digs up more info on Arli, please feel free to she it with me.

Arli and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2016.

Mascot Week: Friar Dom

Mascot Week continues as we feature Friar Dom of Providence College. Friar Dom comes with an interesting history.

The team name "Friars" dates back to 1929 and is a shortened form of the Dominican order, "the Blackfriars." The original mascot of Providence was a Dalmatian who first appeared at a football game in 1935. A few generations of Dalmatians followed. The death of Friar Boy IV in 1963, led to the creation of Friar Dom. In 1993, Friar Boy V was introduced as the newest Dalmatian.

In 2017, a Dalmatian mascot debuted as company for Friar Dom. The purpose was to have a mascot able to perform more athletic stunts throughout the games. A contest resulted in the Dalmatian mascot being named Huxley. Providence spokespeople made it clear that the new Dalmatian mascot would be in addition to Friar Dom and in no way would replace him.

Friar Dom has been called "ghoulish" and "haunting." He has even been described as scary. I like Friar Dom. It is interesting. Even in a world of larger-than-life caricatures, Friar Dom stands out.

I met Friar Dom during the Big East Conference Women's Basketball tournament last year. I failed to meet Huxley though. Unfortunately for Providence, despite both mascots, Providence lost to DePaul in the Quarterfinals.

and me in Chicago, IL-March 2019.

Mascot Week: Randy Johnson

We continue celebrating our fuzzy, fun friends on Mascot Week. Today's featured mascot is a bit unusual, even for a mascot.

The Arizona Diamondbacks have a legend mascots race between Randy Johnson, Luis Gonzalez, Mark Grace and Matt Williams. These mascots are exactly what they sound like they would be. They are mascot versions, with enlarged heads, of four of the most legendary Diamondbacks.

While meandering around Chase Field, I ran into the Randy Johnson mascot. The Hall of Famer spent six of his 22 seasons pitching for the Diamondbacks, including the 2001 season in which they won the World Series. The 6'10" Big Unit was named the World Series MVP.

As noted, Johnson is very tall, but the person in his mascot costume seems pretty tall, too. His shoulder is well above mine.  He isn't tall enough to be the real Randy Johnson though.

I wanted to meet the other mascot legends, but I failed in that attempt. I am content to have gotten one though.

Randy Johnson and me in Phoenix, AZ-September 2015.

Mascot Week: Rusty, Swiper, Squeeze, Willie, Supernova, Skates and King

Mascot Week continues. Cn you spot me among the many furry creatures?
Every July, the Chicago Bandits celebrated their mascot Swiper's birthday. .There are always several other mascots joining Swiper and helping celebrate his birthday.
Last season, my planning worked perfectly, as I caught the whole group as they left the playing field after pre-game festivities. That gave me the rare opportunity to get a group picture with all seven of them. We almost missed Supernova from the Chicago Red Stars, but he jumped in just at the last moment. Good thing he did, because that would have been a missed chance that would haunt me.
The rest of this week will be filled with all of the furry, fuzzy, goofy fun of the wonderful world of mascots. Of course, it will be hard to ever top this mascot experience.

Kings Dining & Entertainment Mascot, Chicago Dogs Squeeze, Northwestern University Willie the Wildcat, Gary SouthShore RailCats Rusty, Chicago Wolves Skates, Chicago Red Stars and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2019.

Mascot Week: Friend Encounters: Rocky of the Denver Nuggets, Jean and Sam

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities. We continue Mascot Week with a special Friend Encounters: Mascot Edition.

My niece Sam and her husband Kyle recently moved to Colorado. It was sad to see them leave Illinois, but I am happy for them.
Her parents Jean and Scott made their first visit and took in the sights of the Denver area. Of course, one of those stops had to be a Denver Nuggets game at the Pepsi Center. While there, Jean and Sam met Rocky, the Nuggets' mascot.
Actually, Rocky's full name is Supermascot Rocky and he is widely recognized as the best mascot in professional sports. Rocky debuted December 15, 1990. Born in the Rocky Mountains, his billed height is 5'10" and his billed weight is 154 pounds. He has a reputation for being ornery, although I think that is aimed mostly at the opponents and their fans.
Jean and Sam earned extra Johngy Points for waiting in line to meet and get a picture with Rocky. They are always looking to help me with Johngy's Beat and they know I love mascots.

Jean, Rocky and Sam in Dnver, CO-December 2019.

Mascot Week: Celebrity Jersey Cards #463 Linda Cohn (With Mr. Met) & Robin Roberts (With The Phillie Phanatic)

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series in which I create virtual; trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. To kickoff Mascot Week, we feature special Celebrity Jersey Cards with mascots.

New York native Linda Cohn is a broadcasting pioneer. In 1987, Cohn made history by becoming the first full-time U.S. female sports anchor on a national radio network when she was hired by ABC. In 2014, Cohn was named one of the 25 most influential women in sports. Cohn shares her Mascot Edition Celebrity Jersey Card with Mr. Met.

Born in Alabama, Robin Roberts rose to fame as a newscaster on ESPN. Her father was a pilot with the Tuskegee Airmen. A credible and popular broadcaster for more than 35 years, Roberts has battled myelodysplastic syndrome. Her treatment was covered on Good Morning America, earning a Peabody Award. She continues to be an inspiration. Roberts shares her Mascot Edition Celebrity Jersey Card with the Phillie Phanatic.

Beer City Bruiser at Blizzard Brawl 2019

I don't think I am exposing any big secret in writing Matt Winchester wrestles as the Beer City Bruiser. I think that is known in and out of wrestling kayfabe.

Billed from Milwaukee, WI, Winchester debuted in 2000. He has wrestled for several companies, including Ring of Honor, where he currently wrestles. He has also wrestled for Brew City Wrestling (naturally), the National Wrestling Alliance (NWA) and others. Pro Wrestling Illustrated ranked Bruiser #318 of the top 500 wrestlers in the PWI 500 in 2017.

A few years back, Winchester was the star of a commercial for Sears. Winchester was in the ring, throwing around another wrestler who was wearing "tough" Sears clothes. Along with wrestler Paloma Starr, I was selected to play a small part of a scientist evaluating the clothing. In the end, Winchester threw the other wrestler onto Paloma and me, knocking us down, of course.

Actually, Winchester tossed out a dummy at us, knocking us down. While it wasn't a real person, the dummy was still quite heavy and actually hit me pretty hard below the belt, but I took one for the team, as a true professional (at least for one day) would.

Unfortunately, the commercial is lost. It aired for a long time on YouTube and I did download it, but a virus wiped out some of my files. Nobody involved in the commercial has a copy, although we all would love to have it. If anyone out there happens to have it, please let me know. (It's a huge longshot, but just taking a chance.)

At Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's Blizzard Brawl, I caught up with Winchester. He's doing great and still kicking butt in the ring.

You can follow him at @bcbwinchester on twitter. Also, go to ROHWrestling.com for info on their roster and events.

Matt Winchester and me in Waukesha, WI-December 2019.

AJ Mendez Brooks and More GLOW

I have written several times about AJ Lee. AJ is a former wrestler who has transcended the wrestling scene and moved into the mainstream. AJ might also be known as her real name AJ Mendez or AJ Brooks, her married name.

Growing up in a dysfunctional home, AJ suffered mental issues. AJ's life started to turn for the better when she was properly diagnosed as bipolar.

When she started her career in pro wrestling, she battled stereotypes, but refused to change. Her stance paid off, as she became a successful and popular wrestler.

After leaving wrestling, AJ wrote her autobiography Crazy is My Super Power. It is a bit of a rough read, as AJ tells of her struggles and efforts to remove the stigma from mental illness. It is a wonderful book and I thanked AJ for writing it when I met her at a National Alliance on Mental Illness event where she spoke.

AJ's latest project combines her love for comic books and her efforts to be and create a positive role model for young girls. Teaming with actress Aimee Garcia, the pair co-wrote a four part comic book series based on GLOW. In GLOW vs. The Babyface, the women created strong diverse female characters.

It's an interesting series and having AJ and Aimee aboard brings a little extra publicity to it. They aren't figurehead writers though. They dug in deep and really worked on this series. The product is great. Comics fans have greeted it warmly and the ladies are rightly proud.

The second part was recently released and is another winner. I look forward to the final two issues.

Putting a comic book on a Great Reads list is a bit unorthodox. I prefaced its inclusion by stating these were for quicker, lighter reading. I also including a comic book featuring the legendary Svengoolie, as well as a couple illustrated by my artist friend Sara Richard.

Fun reads don't have to be huge novels and you don't have to be a kid to enjoy a comic book. There is room on my bookshelf for all sorts of literature. The comic I selected all had special meaning to me. The list must be okay, because Great Reads 2019 became one of the most viewed blogs in GT history and nobody complained about the comic books.

You can follow AJ at @TheAJMendez on twitter. Check with your local comic book store for GLOW vs. The Babyface.

AJ Lee and me in Wilmette, IL-May 2019.

Michelle Moultrie of Team USA

Born in Jacksonville, FL, Michelle Moultrie was a walk-on player at the University of Florida and went on to earn two Second Team and a First Team All-SEC honors. She was the 2012 SEC Player of the Year and a Third Team and First Team All-American in her final two years. That is quite impressive, especially for a walk-on. 

At Florida in 249 games, she hit .385 with 22 home runs, 116 rbi's, 204 runs scored and 83 stolen bases. She also had a .569 slugging percentage. She went from being a walk-on to being a legit star player. Moultrie is no longer under the radar though.

In 20011, Moultrie joined Team USA and earlier this year was named to the 2020 Summer Olympics roster. On the international stage, at the WBSC Women's World Championship, she was a gold Medalist twice and a Silver Medalist twice. She also was a four-time World Cup of Softball Gold Medalist and won a silver and a gold medal at the Pan American Games. 

In July 2020, Moultrie will take the big stage in Tokyo as Team USA goes for the Gold. It's rare that I watch the Olympics intently and even more rare that I am looking forward to the Olympics, but because I know many players from Team USA softball, I'm already anticipating it and will definitely be watching.

You can follow Team USA on the road to the 2020 Olympics at TeamUSA.org. Also, follow Michelle at @Moultrie16 on twitter.

Michelle Moultrie and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2019.

Svengoolie Meets The DC Universe

Rich Koz as Svengoolie has been entertaining fans for 40+ years. In June 1979, on WFLD-TV in Chicago, Koz began as Son of Svengoolie. Since then, he shortened his name to Svengoolie, while becoming a legendary horror host.

Late last year, Koz and Sven crossed over into the DC Universe. Svengoolie Meets the DC Universe is a series of custom inserts featured in DC comic books. The two-page chapters were written by DC Comics co-publisher and Svengoolie superfan Dan DiDio, with an assist from Svengoolie himself, plus art by Christopher Jones. They have been selling quickly in all comic book stores. I picked up my copies at Aw Yeah Comics in Skokie, IL.

As big of a treat this is for Sven fans and comic fans alike, it is also very exciting for Koz. A big fan of comics, Koz was happy and flattered to be interacting with the characters in the DC Universe.

This isn't Koz's first foray into comics. Previously featured in MAD Magazine, Koz cites the commonalities of his audience and comic fans.

Go to Svengoolie.com for more info on the comic books and all other Sven-related stuff. Hopefully, you will meet him someday, because he is such a treat in person.

Svengoolie and me in Chicago, IL-March 2019.

Michael Rooker at Wizard World St. Louis 2017

Michael Rooker was born in Alabama, but moved to Chicago in his early teens.  He talked about Chicago in the interview I did with him at Wizard World in Chicago 2015.  That interview can be found at On the Beat with Michael Rooker.

Rooker was hugely popular at that Wizard World and not just because it was in Chicago.  His resume is lengthy, but his stint on The Walking Dead made him incredibly in-demand at the convention.  That's what happens when you have a successful actor and a ridiculously popular series.

A year and a half later, I met Rooker again at Wizard World, but this time it was in St. Louis and Rooker was as popular aas ever.  Fortunately, as a media person, I got some extra access, because his lines were very long.  Despite the long lines, his fans left very happy.  That's what happens when you have a popular celebrity who makes each short visit special for the fan.

In St. Louis, we talked about Wizard World, Chicago and even a little real estate.  During the press session, he even got one member of the press (not me) to demonstrate "The Twist" while he sang it.  That was a blast.  You don't see that too often from celebrities.

He's a great guy, a great guest.  I look forward to seeing Rooker again at a future con.

The next Wizard World is in Portland January 24-26. For more info, go to WizardWorld.com.

Michael Rooker and me in St. Louis, MO-April 2017.

Happy Birthday Scott

I will poke and compete with Scott Parker almost any day, but today is his birthday and I'll give him his props.

It's hard to believe all of the fun we've had over all the years. It's even hard to believe how many years it's been. It's over 36 years now.

My brother-in-law by title, Scott is much more like my brother. He has helped me and supported me in far too many ways to list. He wouldn't keep score anyway, but I am forever grateful for everything. Mostly, I am just grateful for his friendship.

Despite beinga White Sox fan, Scott enjoyed the Cubs World Series run of 2016. Scott, Jean and I watched an exciting playoff game in Las Vegas and Scott was cheering for the Cubs (as odd and disturbing as that was).

Scott (and Jean) have played host so many times in Florida and Michigan. They always make everyone feel welcome, but one of the real highlights is Scott's grilling. Grillmaster Pork has quite a way around the grill. My mouth waters just thinking about his meals.

I am sure he will be celebrating in Florida (and I am so jealous as I freeze in Chicago), but I toast him from here. Happy birthday Pork! Enjoy your day!

Scott, Jean and me in Florida-February 2018.

Friend Encounters: Lee Majors and Troy Babbs

Friend Encounters is a weekly series in which I feature friends who have met celebrities.

I met Troy Babbs through the convention scene. Sometimes he volunteers at them, sometimes he is just an attendee and he has even joined the Johngy's Beat crew a few times. Either way, it is always great seeing Troy and I always have fun around him.

I don't see Troy very often, but I always look forward t it.He's simply a quality person> He is one of many awesome people I have met through conventions, but he is one of the best! Everyone loves this guy and I have never heard a bad word about him.

Troy gets excited meeting celebrities, as do we all. He gets the unique perspective from working some of their tables, too. Of course, they also get the "Troy Babbs Experience" and that is priceless.

I am reasonably sure I will see Troy at the Squared Circle Expo coming to Indianapolis in May.

Troy had the pleasure of meeting Lee Majors (or did Majors have the pleasure of meeting Troy) a few years ago. I have yet to meet the "Six Million Dollar Man" and I am envious of Troy on this one. We'll see who we both meet at the Squared Circle Expo.

Go to Squared Circle Expo on Facebook to get all of the info. If you see Troy there, tell him I sent you.

Lee Majors and Troy Babbs in Lexington, KY-March 2017.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #462 Olivia Culpo & Jim Cramer

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series in which I create virtual; trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Today we salute two teams bounced from the NFL playoffs last weekend.

Olivia Culpo was Miss Rhode Island, Miss USA and Miss Universe. She has gone on to become a media personality. She also has gone on to date several stars, including Tim Tebow and Danny Amendola. I believe her Celebrity Jersey Card is from her time with Amendola, but one wonders why she is wearing Tom Brady's #12 and not Amendola's 80.

Born in a Philadelphia suburb, Jim Cramer is a television personality, author, financial adviser and an Eagles fan. He is a season ticketholder of more than 20 years. His highlight was when the Eagles won the Super Bowl in 1988. He wore a DeMarco Murray jersey on his show to merit the Celebrity Jersey Card, but methinks he needs a new one, since Murray is no longer with the team/

Sara Richard and the Royal Book of Oz

As I usually do, I wrote an online piece for Global Traveler magazine reviewing my favorite books I read last year. That piece can be found at Great Reads 2019.
One of the books I listed was The Royal Book of Oz. Originally printed in 1921, The Royal Book of Oz is the fifteenth book in the Oz series and the first written by Ruth Plumly Thompson. It was originally thought to be written by Oz creator L. Frank Baum. Years later, it was discovered to be the work of Thompson.

The newest edition features updated, all-new illustrations by Eisner Award-nominated artist Sara Richard. The Royal Book of Oz is 272 pages of entertainment following the Scarecrow’s search for his family tree, highlighted by beautiful and whimsical illustrations by Sara.

I have featured Sara here many times over the years. I am a huge fan of her work and am proud to call her a friend. Sara is extremely talented and if you follow her on social media, you will see she is also one of the coolest people.

I have ordered The Royal Book of Oz and I look forward to diving into it. I can't wait to see what cook illustrations Sara has created.

You can get this book by going to the Kickstarter page for The Royal Book of Oz. You can also get more info on the book and Sara at SaraRichard.com.

Sara Richard and me in Novi, MI-May 2015.

Good Bye, Good Luck and Thank you Brenna Moss of the Chicago Bandits

When the National Pro Fastpitch season starts in a few months, Brenna Moss will not be in the lineup for the Chicago Bandits. Earlier this week, Brenna announced her retirement.

After a stellar career at Fresno State, Brenna was selected by the Bandits as the 13th overall selection in the third round of the 2015 NPF Draft. In her first couple seasons in the NPF, Brenna played excellent defense in the outfield and flashed a lot of speed, while learning to adjust at the plate. In her third season, Brenna found her stride and hit .341. She followed that in 2018 with a .442 average.

Brenna's 2018 season was historic. Named the NPF’s Player of the Year Award, she tied the league’s single-season hits record (65) and broke the franchise record for single-season stolen bases (27). She was also the Offensive Player of the Year and the Stolen Base Leader.

Last season, Brenna hit .303, a bit of a drop off from her 2018 season, but nobody expected a repeat. Brenna remained one of the stars of the NPF.

In addition to her play, Brenna was one of the most popular players on the Bandits and in the league. Brenna was extremely great with the fans. Many "Moss 55" jerseys could be spotted at every game (and I was lucky enough to get one to add to my collection).

Brenna hasn't announced her plans yet, but I am sure she will succeed at whatever she does. Brenna is smart and an incredibly hard worker. She will be an asset to any organization she joins.

I join Bandit Nation in hoping we will see her around the park. I also join Bandit Nation in thanking Brenna for everything over the last five seasons. I appreciate all of the interviews Brenna has given me and her friendship over the years.

Brenna Moss and me in Rosemont, IL-June 2019.

Challenging The King of Chicago Geeks Elliott Serrano

Elliott Serrano is a lot of things. He is a podcaster, writer and author. He is Chicago's King of Geeks™ (via @LaurenceWHolmes), Chicago's Clark Kent (via @GeneHa) and Chief Geek Officer (via @PattiVasquezCHI). I'm sure he wears several other hats and has earned many titles. I question one of his titles though.

Somewhere along the way, Elliott became Chicago's Media Champ. Was that title bestowed by The Shot to the Top PL Myers? Did Elliott give it to himself? Knowing Elliott, he is too humble to declare himself the Chicago Media Champ.

Don't get me wrong. I do not question Elliott's credentials. He is a multi-talented media personality. His work covers many areas in several formats. He has earned every bit of success he has. I am a big fan!

While he may have earned the title of Chicago's Media Champ, my problem arises with the lack of defenses of that title. All title-holders face challengers. Who determines possible contenders and how is it all figured out? I don't have those answers, but I do have a suggestion.

Better yet, I have a challenge. I have put out my challenge to Elliott for his Chicago Media Champ title. My credentials certainly do not match up with Elliott's, but underdogs have won many times before. Cassius Clay upset Sonny Liston. Buster Douglas surprised Mike Tyson. Hulk Hogan shocked The Iron Sheik. Why couldn't Johngy take down Elliott?

This isn't personal. I really like Elliott. In the history books, I will never pass Elliott in terms of media accomplishments and notoriety. Just like Douglas won't be rated above Tyson for their careers, Douglas had the moment of taking the title. That's all I want. I want the chance to take Elliott's Chicago Media Champ title.

Will Elliott respond? Will PL Myers set up the match? (What kind of match would it be anyway?) Time will tell and I will report all here.

Until then, follow Elliott on twitter for lots of fun and to see if he responds.

Elliott Serrano and me in Addison, IL-November 2019.

George Castle and Great Reads 2019

I first met writer and author George Castle at Lerner Newspapers back in the early 1990's (maybe even the late 1980's_. He was a sports writer and I was in the Circulation Department. We bonded over talking sports.

George has more sports trivia knowledge than anyone I have ever met. I am proud that he gives me credit for having a lot of knowledge, too, although I am not in his league.

George has written many books during his lengthy career. His latest book is The 1969 Cubs: Long Remembered - Not Forgotten. Co-written with Hall of Fame pitcher Fergie Jenkins, this is the definitive look at the 1969 Cubs. Jenkins gives his personal reflections, while Castle fills in fascinating details and facts. Castle conducted interviews with several significant players invloved in that season.

This book is a "must" for any Cubs fan. If George is involved, you know it is thorough. Actually, any baseball fan would love this book. I included The 1969 Cubs: Long Remembered - Not Forgotten in my Great Reads 2019 online piece for Global Traveler.

You can check out all of George's book on Amazon's George Castle author page. I have several of his books, including The 1969 Cubs: Long Remembered - Not Forgotten and Champions: 15 Inspiring Comeback Stories from Sports & Life.

George Caste, me and Steve Gassman in St. Charles, IL-December 2017.

Friend Encounters: Buff Bagwell and Scott Bridges

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

Bridges Scoreboard is a neighborhood sports bar in Griffith, IN. It is my dad's "go-to" place. I have been there several times, as well. They have solid bar food and a lively, but not crazy atmosphere.

A native of Griffith, co-owner Scott Bridges was a kicker for Indiana State University in the mid-80s. Now he runs Bridges with his brother Jeff.

Bridges has held several athlete appearances over the years. The latest was wrestling star Marcus "Buff" Bagwell. Buff has had a lengthy and successful career. He had a lengthy run in World Championship Wrestling and has been on the independent scene since they were bought by the WWE in  2001.

As expected Buff drew a big crowd and he delighted everyone with his stories and humor. Buff truly is "the stuff," as he'll gladly tell you. Scott even got into the act by donning Buff's trademark hat.

Go to BridgesScoreboard.com for more info. Also, check the Bridges Scoreboard Facebook page for more frequent updates.

Buff Bagwell and Scott Bridges in Griffith, IN-October 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #461 Nick Lachey & Jon Jay

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a regular series in which I create virtual; trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. With the NFL regular season ended, we salute the two worst teams for this season.

Nick Lachey was born in Harlan, Kentucky, with the Cincinnati Bengals being the closest NFL team as he grew up. Lachey is a big fan of the Bengals, often wearing a Bengals jersey while attending games. In his Celebrity Jersey Card, Lachey is wearing #14, most recently (and currently) worn by Andy Dalton. Why he is holding a bottle of Tide is unknown, but it is a CJC first.

Born in Miami, FL, Jon Jay has gone on to an excellent Major League Baseball career. He debuted in 2010 with the St. Louis Cardinals. After six seasons with the Cards, Jay has moved around a lot, moving on to the San Diego Padres, Chicago Cubs, Kansas City Royals, Arizona Diamondbacks and Chicago White Sox. Jay wore a Washington Redskins jersey when the Cubs had a sports jersey themed road trip. I don't know of his connection to the Redskins or the #21, most famously worn by Deion Sanders.

Cards That Never Were: Sonny Jurgensen 1959, '60, '73, '74 & '75 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. You can find a lot of custom card creations in the Custom Baseball Cards Facebook group (not just baseball despite the name).

Sonny Jurgensen was selected by the Philadelphia Eagles in the 4th round of the 1957 NFL Draft. He played 7 seasons with the Eagles, followed by 11 with the Washington Redskins on his was to a Hall of Fame NFL career.

Topps gave him a rookie card in their 1958 set, then he was skipped in 1959 and '60. From 1961 to '72, Topps (or Philadelphia) gave Jurgensen cards in their sets. He did not get a card in sets from 1973-'75. The 1975 omission is another one of those annoying oddities, because he appeared on their "NFL Passing Leaders" card, but not on a solo card. How can that be?

Anyway, I was able to fill in all of the gaps. The cards with the Eagles were challenging, but I eventually found decent enough pictures to use.

Linda Kay at Blizzard Brawl 2019

Linda Kay has billed herself as "The Social Media Diva of the Pro Wrestling Report," but when I last saw her, she was the ring announcer at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's Blizzard Brawl. Whatever her role or title, Linda is guaranteed to bring a lively presence and a big smile.

While certainly a beautiful woman, Linda is not mere eye candy at GLCW events. She has been around and done enough over the years to be entrenched and invested in the GLCW community. Ever the modest one, she directs the spotlight on the wrestling talent, but she has plenty of fans (including me) looking for a photo opportunity at every show.

You can follow her at @LindaKay22 on twitter. Go to the GLCW site for info about their upcoming events.

Linda Kay and me in Waukesha, WI-December 2019.

Johngy (and Mike Knezevich) Through Dina's Lens

Last week, I wrote Through My Lens: A Decade of National Pro Fastpitch Photos, about Dina Kwit's book of photographs and interviews from her 10 years as the team photographer of the Chicago Bandits. I loved the book and not just because I am pictured on page 301.

I am thrilled as can be to be in Dina's book. As I have written, this book is a museum piece. It is a virtual encyclopedia of the Bandits and the NPF. It is the definitive look at the team, the sport and all around it.

The picture in question is of Bandits broadcaster Mike Knezevich and me in the dugout at the ballpark in Rosemont. I remember the exact moment Dina took the picture, but I never imagined it would end up in the book. I figured it was one of thousands of pictures Dina took. At best, I thought it would be seen on social media or ChicagoBandits.com.

A couple weeks ago, Bandit Nation met Dina by the ballpark and we received the first copies of Through My Lens. Dina even said then that I was in the book. I figured she meant I was visible in the background of some shots. It wasn't until I got home and really dug into the book that I saw myself on page 301.

I am incredibly honored to be included. It is even better to be pictured with ace broadcaster Mike. He is such a huge part of the team and the league. 

My picture is one of thousands in Through My Lens. Most people will probably just see it as one of the sights of the ballpark. Maybe I am making too much out of it, but to me, It means I have been a part of this experience. Dina selected this photo because it meant something. It wasn't just filler or a favor. I am proud to have some place cemented in the history of the NPF.

I appreciate Dina for her hard work and dedication in publishing this book. It is a labor of love for her and a gift of love for all softball fans.

For more info on the book, including where to purchase it, go to BookBaby.com. Ifyou bring it to the ballpark next season, I'd be happy to sign page 301 for you!

Mike Knezevich and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2018. (Photo by Dina Kwit)

Amanda Chidester of Team USA

Amanda Chidester was a star at the University of Michigan. In her four seasons with the Wolverines, she hit .355, with 40 homeruns, 200 rbi's and 157 runs scored in 231 games. She was twice selected as the Big Ten Conference Player of the Year.

She has also found success on the international scene. She was a silver medalist twice and a gold medalist twice in the WBSC Women's World Championships of 2012, '14 and '16. Earlier this year, she was named to the 2020 Olympics roster for Team USA.

After Michigan, she was selected 11th overall in the third round of the 2012 National Pro Fastpitch Draft by the Akron Racers. In 2019, Amanda was named the NPF Player of the Year, NPF Offensive Player of the Year, and Home Run Award winner. For the season, Amanda hit .377, with 15 homeruns, 35 rbi's and 25 runs scored. 

I will always have a special place in my heart for Amanda, as she was the catcher for my first pitch last summer. The pitch was a "bit" high, but Amanda stretched and caught it, saving me from an overthrow. After the catch, I told her how much I appreciate that effort. We had a good laugh about it.

I had the pleasure of interviewing Amanda during last season's NPF championship. That can be found at On the Beat With Amanda Chidester.

I really am looking forward to watching Team USA in the 2020 Olympics in July. I especially am excited about seeing Amanda and the other Bandits (Ally Carda, Delaney Spaulding and Hannah Flippen).

Go to TeamUSA.org for more info on the softball squad. Also follow Amands at @Chiddy3 on twitter.

Amanda Chidester and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.