Jourdan Skirha and the Bandit Academy

The National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits should be entering the last third of their season, but unfortunately 2020 has been derailed. There is still a lot of great stuff happening at the Ballpark in Rosemont though.
The Bandit Academy is open and there to help young softball players. The main group of instructors include Holly Scott, Abby Ramirez and Jourdan Skirha, but they are occasionally joined by others, including Bandits.
Jourdan is pulling double duty, as she is also the assistant GM for the Bandits. At a young age, she already is compiling an impressive resume.
A grad of Oak Forest High School, Jourdan was a member of the 2009 IHSA 3A State Championship team. Jourdan earned all-conference honors as a sophomore, junior, and senior and was named 2nd Team All-State in 2011 and 2012. She went on to Drexel University, where she played third base, second base, shortstop and outfield. In 2017, She was nominated for Drexel University’s Best Athletic Play for her pinch-hit, walk-off grand slam against Colonial Athletic Association conference rival, University of Delaware. I included a video of that grand slam in my interview with Jourdan at On the Beat With Jourdan Skirha.
I have often said that Jourdan is a blur of activity at the games, while in charge of game day operations. She oversees a lot of pre-game and in game fun activities. I am sure she brings the same type of dedication, energy and talent to the Bandit Academy.
Jourdan is a great role model, especially for young girls. At a young age, she holds a big job with a pro sports team. Earlier this year, Jourdan was very vocal on social media about the social and racial climate in the country. I applaud her courage in speaking out. Jourdan has a bright future and I will be proud to say I know her.
On a personal level, I appreciate Jourdan facilitating my first pitch and my batting practice session, two of my most memorable times covering the Bandits.
For more info, go to ChicagoBandits.com. Also, follow the Chicago Bandits on Facebook for more frequent updates and other news.

Jourdan Skirha and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2017.

Friend Encounters: Magglio Ordonez, Kailee and Erin

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

Baseball is back. With that announcement, my nephew Contributor Extraordinaire Matt Parker sent me a perfect picture for today.
Back in the summer of 2004, Matt's future wife Erin and sister Kailee went on the field at and met Chicago White Sox outfielder Magglio Ordonez. Matt quotes Erin as saying, "He was so cute."
Unfortunately for Erin, Kailee and Sox fans, this would be Ordonez's last season with the Sox. After the season, he signed as a free agent with the Detroit Tigers.
Ordonez played seven seasons with the Tigers, for 15 total seasons in MLB. He had 2,156 hits, 294 HRs and a .309 batting average. That would put him in the Hall of the Very Good.
Like Erin, I was also a fan of Ordonez, although not particularly a fan of the Sox then. I would have liked to see Ordonez finish his career with the Sox. It would have been cool to see him and Paul Konerko together for so many years.
While Ordonez bailed out of Chicago, Erin eventually signed as a free agent with Matt. They now are raising their beautiful little girl Delaney to be a Sox fan. Looking ahead, I wonder who Delaney will find "cute" on the team. Perhaps Nick Madrigal? Garrett Crochet? Only time will tell. Maybe someday in about 15 years, we will all find out when Delaney has her own encounter with a Sox player.

Kailee, Magglio Ordonez and Erin in Chicago, IL-Summer 2004.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #485 Natalie Martinez & Lori Petty

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Once again, we are working our way alphabetically through all of the Major League Baseball teams.

Miami native actress and model Natalie Martinez has appeared in several music videos, as well as television shows and movies. She had a recurring role on CSI: NY, among other series. Martinez tossed a ceremonial pitch for her hometown Marlins to get a Celebrity Jersey Card. I just love the orange jerseys, but Martinez would look good in any color jersey.

Born in Tennessee, actress Lori Petty co-starred in A League of Their Own, one of my favorite movies. Among other roles, she also was in Point Break, as the woman who taught Keanu Reeves how to surf. More recently, she had a recurring role on Orange Is The New Black. The Marlins honored the 25th anniversary of A League of Their Own by having Petty throw out a first pitch, which landed her on a Celebrity Jersey Card.

Sahvanna Jaquish Game One MVP

Last Monday was supposed to be the first game of a summer series pitting the USSSA Pride against the Scrap Yard Dawgs. It would be a showcase of past and future Olympians, as well as other elite softball players. The Pride won 4-0, but a tweet from the Dawgs official twitter account was the big news.  

My coverage of the controversy can be found at Controversial Tweet Overshadows Pride-Dawgs Softball Game on Global Women's Sports Radio.In the aftermath, the entire Dawgs team quit and the future of the series is in doubt.

Lost in the mess was an interesting game, highlighted by a great performance by Sahvanna Jaquish.The former Chicago Bandits player doubled for the first hit of the game and later belted a three run homer to give the Pride a 3-0 lead.

I had the pleasure of seeing and knowing Sahvanna during her time with the Bandits in 2017. Our interview can be found at On the Beat With Sahvanna Jaquish.

The catcher-infielder was a star player at Louisiana State University. Among her other achievements, she was a USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year Finalist. She has played on the international stage with the Puerto Rico National Team and now Team USA.

It's unfortunate that Sahvanna's big game and the team's win was secondary news to the tweet. Sahvanna, the teams, the fans and the sport deserve better. The tweet created an ugly mess.

As I have expressed already, I hope somehow the series can continue and the teams can turn this into something positive longterm.

You can follow Sahvanna at @S_Jay27 on Instagram. Also, go to USSSAPride.com for more info and news.

Sahvanna Jaquish and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2015.

PJ Soles at Days of the Dead Chicago 2014

Days of the Dead returns to Indianapolis July 17-19. As always, it will be a weekend of horror and pop culture fun. Until then, I recall some of my fun times at previous events.
I have been a longtime fan of PJ Soles. I loved her as Riff in Rock 'n' Roll High School, but she has appeared in so many other classic movies, too. Carrie, Halloween, Stripes and Private Benjamin are just a few of her older movies. She was even in The Boy in the Plastic Bubble.
PJ is not just one of my favorites, she is one of the best convention guests. Whether at her table or in the hallways, PJ is always ready with a smile or hug. She has a large supply of several pictures. She is also ready for a little chatting about the Ramones, her Rock 'n' Roll High School co-stars.
It's fun meeting favoerites and it is even better when they are very cool in person. Making my experience with PJ even better is I had the pleasure of interviewing her. Thanks to Matt Parker for his patience in helping me get this one. It is one of my favorites and can be found at On the Beat With PJ Soles at Days of the Dead. It was the end of a long day at the con for PJ, but she was kind enough to do the interview.

PJ doesn't do every DotD, but she does many. It definitely is a great place to meet her. You might even see me hanging around her table.

Go to DaysoftheDead.com for all of the info on Indy and the other shows. Also, check Days of the Dead on Facebook for more frequent updates. 

PJ Soles and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2014.

On Global Women's Sports Radio

Monday night, the Scrap Yard Dawgs and the USSSA Pride started a 25 game summer series. The two former National Pro Fastpitch teams would play each other in Florida and Texas throughout the summer in a sort of nod to barnstorming teams of yesteryear. Although I wouldn't be attending the games, I was set to cover the series for Global Women's Sports Radio. Unfortunately, things took an ugly turn during the game, creating controversy and ill feelings, along with putting the series in jeopardy.

The game started okay. Former Chicago Bandits Sahvanna Jaquish of the Pride hit a double for the first hit of the game, but the game was scoreless until she clubbed a 3 run homer in the 4th inning. The Pride added one more run to seal a 4-0 victory.

This should have been an exciting start to a summer of great softball. It might be one and done, however.

The Dawgs official twitter account, tweeted a picture of the Dawgs standing for the National Anthem, accompanied by “Hey @RealDonaldTrump Pro Fastpitch being played @USSSASpaceCoast @USSSSAPride  EVERYONE respecting the Flag!”

The tweet has since been deleted, but the damage was done. The Dawgs organization has not commented on the situation as of yet. The outrage started immediately and is outgoing.

Players, staffers and fans of both teams have spoken out in disgust and disappointment. Perhaps the most poignant statement came from the Dawgs' Kiki Stokes.

“I'm so hurt. Never in my entire playing career or even life have I ever been so hurt. I have never felt so small in a locker room, so helpless, so lonely. I feel betrayed, embarrassed, disgusted, angry...to come into that locker room after a game and have no idea that the organization I stayed loyal to for the last 5 years and put my honest to God heart and soul into wasn't looking out for me, but more importantly, my community hurts.”

What a horribly sad statement from a fine young woman. She deserves better. 

These athletes deserve better. The sport deserves better. My hope is that somehow the players can still continue the series and use it as a platform of positivity to really shine the light on the cause.

I wanted to cover softball this summer. I'd rather not be writing about this ugly situation, but I will continue to cover this as it develops. My story for Global Women's Sports Radio can be found at Controversial Tweet Overshadows Pride-Dawgs Softball Game.

kIKI sTOKES and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2017.

John Skyler and The Resistance

Resistance Pro Wrestling has been making news of late. In recent weeks, RPro wrestlers Sugar Dunkerton, Brady Pierce, John Skyler and "The Ego" Robert Anthony have all wrestled for All Elite Wrestling. Additionally, RPro co-owner Jacques Baron made the announcement that RPro is returning.

It is very cool seeing RPro talent appearing on television. I saw all these men in RPro. I saw how hard they worked. I saw how much they wanted this. These four are very different, but all bring something special to the ring.

It's great to see all of this talent getting opportunities. The wrestling business is a tough occupation. There are hundreds of independent wrestling organizations around the country and thousands of indy wrestlers. Making it to one of the big companies is the dream of all of them.

These four wrestlers were longtime RPro guys, too. They weren't just cameo appearances. While they all also wrestled elsewhere, these four all played major roles in RPro. All held titles. Skyler, Anthony and Sug were heavyweight champs and Pierce was a tag team champ as part of Body Magic.

This is all very exciting, but also cool was Jacques announcing that RPro was returning July 21. Notice I wrote "RPro." After transitioning to The Resistance, Jacques is bringing back the original RPro. 

While that is a bit surprising, I think it's a good move. As Tommy and I have been discussing on The "Or Else" podcast, RPro was such a special place. There was a vibe and a feel to it that I haven't experienced anywhere else.

RPro will run exclusively out of Tampa, Florida. Unfortunately, that means I will not be attending shows. As much as I love RPro, I can't commute for their events.

Of course, I wish Jacques and RPro the best. I hope it is a major success. In fact, I hope it is so successful that he brings it back to Chicago at some point, even if just for a random show.

Despite being silent for almost a year, RPro is suddenly in the news. RPro alum are wrestling on television. RPro events are back. Things look good and I wish good luck to all.

Jacques promised more news coming soon. Obviously, the matches and other info will be announced. I'll be reporting all right here and on Patch.com.

 John Skyler and me in Summit, IL-September 2017.

Megan Wiggins and Missing Softball

In my continuing effort to help fill my softball void, I am featuring another interesting player from National Pro Fastpitch. Megan Wiggins creates excitement on the field and beautiful work off the field.

Megan starred at the University of Georgia, becoming the first SEC player and just the 11th SEC player to reach 200 career runs and RBIs finishing her four years with 203 runs and 203 RBIs. She joined the Chicago Bandits in 2011.After four seasons with the Bandits, she was traded to the USSSA Pride. No matter the jersey, Megan was a star.

It's been such a pleasure watching Megan, even when the Pride was beating the Bandits. When you watch the truly great players, it goes beyond team loyalty. Of course, I always want to see the Bandits win, but I can appreciate Megan's abilities and accomplishments.

As talented as Megan is on the field, she has a unique skill set away from the softball diamond. Megan does beautiful antique work. Her restorations are amazing. She is a true artist.

I did two interviews with Megan over the years. The first was in 2014, my first year covering the Bandits. The second was last year and it was more about her Two Five Refined business.

My first interview with Megan can be found at On the Beat With Megan Wiggins of the Chicago Bandits. Last year's interview is at On the Beat With Megan Wiggins of the USSSA Pride.

Go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the team. Also, be sure to check out Megan Wiggins on Instagram for softball and Two Five Refined updates.

Megan Wiggins and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.

Friend Encounters: Jon Moxley and Robert Anthony

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

"The Ego" Robert Anthony was one of the first independent wrestlers I really noticed. To this day, he remains one of my favorites.

I had the pleasure of watching him up close during his time with Resistance Pro Wrestling. Ego is the total package. He is technically sound in the ring and he is excellent on the mic.

Last week, Ego had a match with longtime friend and current All Elite Wrestling champ Jon Moxley on AEW's Dark show. Later, Ego went on twitter to demand a match with Brian Cage, another challenger for Moxley's title. AEW officials granted that request and Ego will wrestle Cage tomorrow on Dark.

If you follow Ego on social media (and you should), you will see how much this whole experience has met to him. Ego has wrestled on the big stage before, but these are high profile matches with his buddies in the #2 wrestling company in the U.S.

I'm really happy for Ego. He has worked hard his whole career. I don't think I am breakling kayfabe to state he is a father of two and a teacher and he is seemingly great at both roles.

His old buddy Moxley is having a solid run as AEW's champ, after several years of success in the WWE. He was one of the first biggest names to leave the WWE for AEW. His connection with Ego goes way back 10+ years to their days in a Chicago fed.

I am proud to have witnessed many awesome Ego matches. I ranked him as the all-time face of RPro. I have enjoyed watching his matches in AEW and I am looking forward to seeing him wrestle Cage.

Go to AllEliteWrestling.com for all of the info on this match and everything else. Also, follow All Elite Wrestling on Facebook for more frequent updates.

Robert Anthony and Jon Moxley in Chicago, IL-March 2020.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #484 Ken Still & Inbee Park

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Once again, we are working our way alphabetically through all of the Major League Baseball teams.

A native of Tacoma, WA, Ken Still became a golfing star. He had five tour wins, including three PGA victories. Still passed away in 2017. The Seattle Mariners had Still toss a ceremonial pitch, which earned him a Celebrity Jersey Card. This was a fun crad to create, even though I had to bend the time continuum by creating a Marniers card before they existed.

South Korean golfer Inbee Park was born in Las Vegas, NV. She already has won seven major championships over the years. After throwing a first pitch for the Mariners, she talked with first baseman Dae-Ho Lee and earned a Celebrity Jersey Card.

Holly Scott and the Bandit Academy

As we enter the heart of the summer, it saddens me to see no games at the Ballpark in Rosemont. There is still activity there though, in the form of the Bandit Academy.
Based at the Ballpark in Rosemont, instructors Holly Scott, Jourdan Skirha and Abby Ramirez work hard to help young players. The Bandit Academy offers private instruction, team workouts, camps, clinics, and other events. It aims to "improve, build upon, and create even more future opportunities in our sport."
Holly joined the Bandits organization in 2019 as the Director of Operations for the Bandit Academy. The Oak Park native brought an impressive softball resume with her.
A pitcher-outfielder at North Central, Holly compiled a career pitching record of 27-14 and a career batting average of .331.Holly earned All-Conference and All-Region honors in her career and led the Cardinals to the NCAA playoffs in 2010.
She started her coaching career as a Graduate Assistant Softball Coach at North Central College from 2011-13. She moved on to Lakeland College, the University of Illinois Chicago and North Central College, where she now serves as pitching coach.
I saw Holly's passion first hand last seaqson. She is another valuable asset to the Bandits organization and the Bandit Academy. Holly, Jourdan and Abby bring a wealth of experience, knowledge and dedication to the Bandit Academy and are also sometimes joined by others, including Bandits.
The Bandit Academy is offering a mini-camp June 22-25. They are four day camps, with 90 minute sessions having eight participants and two coaches per session.
For more info, go to ChicagoBandits.com. Also, follow the Chicago Bandits on Facebook for more frequent updates and other news.

Holly Scott and me in Rosemont, IL-March 2019.

Delaney Spaulding of Team USA

The 2020 Olympics have been postponed until 2021. As I have previously written, I am looking forward to seeing the Team USA softball squad, most of whom I know from National Pro Fastpitch. One of those players is Delaney Spaulding, who plays for my hometown Chicago Bandits.

A native of California, Delaney was a star at UCLA. She was a two-time NFCA Second Team All-American and a three-time First Team All-Pac-12 selection. For her career, she hit .369, with 61 HRs, 229 RBIs, 238 R and 37 SBs.

On the international stage, she was a two-time WBSC Women's World Championship Gold Medalist. She was also a two-time World Cup of Softball Silver Medalist. Last year, Delaney was chosen for the roster of the 2020 Olympics.

Delaney has stated how happy and humbled she is to be part of the team. Like so many of the other softball players, Delaney also said she does so for the little girls. I am not a little girl, but I appreciate Delaney for all she has done. I have seen firsthand how much she and the other players mean to younger girls (and boys, too).

Delaney's Team USA commitments limited her time with the Bandits, but she made an impact when she was here. I had the pleasure of interviewing her in 2018. That can be found at On the Beat With Delaney Spaulding. Delaney is a mature, fun, thoughtful person and an elite athlete.

The Olympics take place in July 2021. I'll be glued to my television for the softball games. I'll be looking for Delaney and all of my other softball friends.

Go to TeamUSA.org for more info on the USA Olympic team. Follow Delaney @DelaneyyLyn on twitter.

Delaney Spaulding and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2018.

Brittany Cervantes and Missing Softball

To help fill my softball void, I am featuring softball players I have had the pleasure of watching and knowing. Brittany Cervantes was the first player from the Chicago Bandits I interviewed after a game. That first interview can be found at On the Beat With Brittany Cervantes.

Brittany was a star softball player at the University of Kentucky, where she was the only player to hit at least 10 home runs in each of her four seasons. She went undrafted in National Pro Fastpitch, but was signed by the Bandits in June of 2012 after a tryout.

She became one of the best undrafted players in NPF history.  Among other awards in the NPF, she was the 2015 NPF Offensive Player of the Year.  She was also excellent on defense, while playing multiple positions.  She was a big part of the two consecutive NPF champions the Bandits won in the last two seasons. She has since played with the Cleveland Comets and the USSSA Pride. She also played internationally with Team Mexico.

Brittany is one of the nicest players I have met. As much as I hated seeing her come back with opposing teams, it was always great catching up with her. She alwys had a smile for her Chicago fans, even for this reporter!

Brittany is currently the Director of Softball Operations at her alma mater. I have no doubt Brittany will do great things for KU. I will be following Brittany's career and wishing her well.

I have had so many great memories and made so many friends from covering the Bandits and the NPF. You don't have to be a writer though. The softball community is inclusive. It is a huge extended family and everyone is welcome and embraced.

I appreciate Brittany's time, consideration and friendship over the years. It has been a pleasure knowing her and watching her play. She is a true professional and a great person.

Go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the team. Also, follow the Chicago Bandits on Facebook for more frequent updates and other fun.

Brittany Cervantes and me in Rosemont, July 2019.

Heather Rudnicki and Missing Softball

By now, the collegiate softball season would have ended. I would have enjoyed many games at DePaul and Northwestern. I also had a planned trip to the University of Wisconsin. Of course, that all got derailed.

My last trip to Madison was in 2018. I interviewed a few former Chicago Bandits who were coaching Wisconsin and Purdue. Those interviews can be found at On the Beat With Kristen Verdun and Danielle Zymkowitz and On the Beat With Tatum Edwards. I also met outfielder Heather Rudnicki.

At the time, Heather was a sophomore. That means 2020 was Heather's senior season, a season cut short by the pandemic. Unfortunately, like other seniors, her softball career ended abruptly with no real notice. After meeting Heather< I started following her career more closely.

Heather played 144 games over her four seasons. Admittedly, I am not an expert on the Wisconsin Badgers, but looking at her stats, it seems she was more of a defensive replacement and pinchrunner. She started 20 games, but only had 47 at bats during her time at Wisconsin. That in no way diminishes her career. I think that speaks volumes of her passion and dedication.

I am always interested in players like Heather. I am sure being a part of a college team is a lot of fun, but it is a lot of work. I have seen how hard DePaul and Northwestern players work and how much time they dedicate to softball. Starters and reserves all have to do the work.

A high school valedictorian, Heather is quoted as saying, ""It’s been a lifelong dream of mine to be a Badger. I will be a fourth generation Badger in my family and I can’t wait to continue the tradition. I have the opportunity to play at the next level while receiving a phenomenal education as well, all while staying close to home. There is no other university and team I would rather cheer for and be a part of. On Wisconsin!"

I can't imagine how cool it would be to have that type of family tradition. Four generations of Badgers is amazing. Clearly Heather was proud of her Wisconsin ties and Wisconsin should be proud of the Rudnicki tradition.

Two more reasons why I like Heather. Her favorite player is Kris Bryant of the Chicago Cubs. Her favorite movie line is "You're killing me, Smalls" from The Sandlot.

It's a bit unclear how the NCAA will handle eligibility because of the play stoppage. Will seniors get another year? Will incoming freshman be redshirted? It's a tough situation and really nobody wins.

Heather will be fine. She was named to the 2018 and '19 Academic All-Big Ten teams. She is also a business major.

She'll leave the University of Wisconsin with great memories and achievements on and off the field. She will also leave with a writer-fan from Chicago. Thank you Heather and good luck in everything you do in the future.

For more info on the University of Wisconsin's softball program, go to UWBadgers.com. Also, check back here for other softball coverage and hopefully my 2021 return trip to Madison.

Heather Rudnicki and me in Madison, WI-April 2018.

Aquaman at Wizard World Chicago 2019

It's well-documented that I am a big fan of Aquaman. I had been in the minority on that for years. I always looked for Aquaman cosplayers at comic cons and I rarely found one. The release of the Aquaman movie helped raise awareness and popularity for the man from Atlantis, but Aquaman cosplayers were still few and almost always new school versions. Hey, I'll take any I can get though.

While doing research for last year's Wizard World Chicago, I came across a social media post about Aquaman by cosplayer Ahmed Arrieta. I contacted him and we agreed to meet at Wizard World.

Given the size and chaos of an event like Wizard World, meeting isn't always as easy as it sounds. We missed a couple opportunities the first two days. Then I was walking through the con floor and I saw a big group of cosplayers and there was Aquaman. I waited for the group to disperse and then I approached Ahmed.

He had the look perfectly. While I will always prefer old school Aquaman, I can appreciate any Aquaman and I certainly respect a great looking cosplay.

Cosplay has come such a long way on the comic con scene. At my first con about 20 years ago, there were some people dressed in costumes, but it was pretty much random and for their own entertainment. Now, it is a major part of any comic con. There are contests, panels, displays, booths and more.

I swear it was unintentional, but as i look at the picture below, I look like the lazy man Aquaman cosplayer. My shirt and shorts semi-match the Aquaman color scheme. Maybe I am a bit more Aquaman-focused than I even realize.

Check WizardWorld.com for all of the info and scheduling on their events. Also, follow Wizard World on Facebook for more frequent updates.

Aquaman and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.

Friend Encounters: Ron Kittle and Eric Soderholm

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

I grew up a Chicago White Sox fan and nothing wqs better than the 1977 South Side Hitmen! The 3rd baseman on that team was Eric Soderholm who would be named American League Comeback Player of the Year for his efforts.

Back then I never imagined I would one day interview Eric and call him a friend, but it happened thanks to my role on HeroTV. That interview can be found at HeroTV 2018 Episode 12: Eric Soderholm Part 1 and HeroTV 2019 Episode 1 Eric Soderholm Part 2. Paul Myers and I talked to Eric about his career and also SoderWorld, his family's health and wellness center.

Eric was traded to the Texas Rangers midway through the 1978 season. He last played in 1980 with the New York Yankees. Since then he has gone on to several businesses, the latest being SoderWorld.

Located in Willowbrook, SoderWorld is a mind, body and spirit sanctuary. They offer classes and sessions in a peaceful and beautiful setting. I felt calmer just being there and talking to Eric.

While Eric's career ended before Ron Kittle joined the Sox in 1983, obviously their paths crossed many times. One of those times was at the Sox convention a few years back. I always enjoy seeing different eras of Sox players mixed together. Although their Sox careers were only a few years apart, the '77 team and the '83 team were quite different, although equally exciting.

Like Eric, Kittle has ventured into several businesses after is baseball career ended. He is one of the most likable, fan-friendly guys around. I only met Kittle once and unfortunately, my photographer blew the picture (in the pre-technology days). I hope to get another chance to meet Kitty in the future.

Go to SoderWorld.com and RonKittle.com to learn more about these great Sox alums and their businesses. I highly encourage you to take a trip to SoderWorld, even if just to soak in the serenity.

Ron Kittle and Eric Soderholm in Chicago, IL-January 2017.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #483 Kevin Hickey & LeBron James

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Once again, we are working our way alphabetically through all of the Major League Baseball teams.

Chicago native Kevin Hickey signed with the Chicago White Sox after an open tryout. Hickey was already a star on the amateur softball diamond. He made it to the majors in 1981 and pitched for three seasons with the Sox. He bounced around a few organizations, but made it back to the majors with the Baltimore Orioles in 1989, pitching for three more seasons. His Celebrity Jersey Card comes from his role as "Schoup" in Major League II. Sadly, Hickey passed away in 2012.

The Cleveland Cavaliers selected Akron native LeBron James with the first pick in the 2003 NBA Draft. A three-time NBA champ, James has had two stints with the Cavs sandwiched around a few years with the Miami Heat. He currently plays for the Los Angeles Lakers. I believe his Celebrity Jersey Card comes from an appearance during his second time with the Cavs.

Abby Ramirez and the Bandit Academy

There is no 2020 National Pro Fastpitch season. The Chicago Bandits are not playing in Rosemont. Still, the Bandit organization is keeping busy.

The Bandit Academy is up and running. Based at the Ballpark in Rosemont, instructors Holly Scott, Jourdan Skirha and Abby Ramirez work hard to help young players. The Bandit Academy offers private instruction, team workouts, camps, clinics, and other events. It aims to "improve, build upon, and create even more future opportunities in our sport."

A Chicago native, Abby attended Trinity High School and was named the 2013 Illinois Gatorade Softball Player of the Year. She went on to star at the University of Michigan. She racked up quite a lot of achievements, including

• NFCA All-Great Lakes Region first team (shortstop, 2017), second team (shortstop, 2016) and third team (shortstop, 2015)
• Two-time All-Big Ten second team (shortstop, 2015, '17)
• NCAA All-Tournament Team (2015)
• All-Big Ten Defensive Team (second base, 2014)
• Big Ten Freshman of the Week (Feb. 10)
• Academic All-Big Ten (2015, '16, '17)
• U-M Athletic Academic Achievement (2014, '15, '16, '17)

An undrafted free agent, Abby joined the Bandits in 2017 and went 2-3 in her debut. Over the next three seasons, Abby would play in 121 games, hitting .294 with 21 RBIs and 39 runs scored. She also has a .964 fielding percentage.

The Bandits did a great job scouting and signing Abby. She is a credit to the organization. She is great with fans and has always been good to me. My first interview with her is at On the Beat With Abby Ramirez.

Abby has proven to be versatile on defense, logging time at shortstop and second base. In 2019, she made the All-NPF team at second base.

That kind of resume is impressive enough, but Abby is much more than a list of accomplishments. She is a quality person who is dedicated to softball now and for the future. She is a valuable asset to the Bandit Academy.

Abby, Holly and Jourdan do a great job at the Bandit Academy. They have also been joined occasionally by others, including some Bandits.

The Bandit Academy is offering mini-camps June 15-18 and June 22-25. They are four day camps, with 90 minute sessions having eight participants and two coaches per session.

For more info, go to ChicagoBandits.com. Also, follow the Chicago Bandits on Facebook for more frequent updates and other news.

Abby Ramirez and me in Rosemont, IL-July 2017.

Missing DePaul Softball

The college softball season should be ending about now. The DePaul Blue Demons looked to be favorites in the Big East Conference and presumably would have been in the Women's College World Series tournament.

Coach Tracie Adix-Zins has been a major part of the DePaul program over the years. As a pitcher, Tracie led the team to the 2007 Women's College World Series. She had an outstanding record of 22-4, including being 10-0 against Big East opponents. She also had a 0.89 ERA, threw 10 complete game shutouts and struck out 168 batters on the way to being named the Big East Pitcher of the Year.

After assistant coach stints at Wisconsin, Oklahoma State and North Carolina State, Tracie returned to DePaul as head coach in 2019. She led the Blue Demons to a 35-16 record on the way to their third-consecutive Big East Tournament title and 21st NCAA Tournament appearance in program history.

Big things were expected from DePaul this season and I was very excited to be covering the team again. Unfortunately, the pandemic put a stop to all college sports.

I am still hopeful for Fall Ball. Usually teams play a few games in September. I'm even hoping this year, Fall Ball will be expanded to a few more games.

I appreciate Traci for her time and consideration last season. It was a lot of fun and I hope that fun resumes later this year!

Check DePaulBlueDemons.com for info on all DePaul Sports. Also, be sure to follow DePaul softball on Facebook.

Tracie Adix-Zins and me in Evanston, IL-May 2019.

Chris Ehnot at Wizard World St. Louis 2017

With physical Wizard World conventions still in limbo, I am reliving some of my favorite people from my many years covering the events.

Chris Ehnot is another of the massively talented folks I have met at Wizard World. One of the most popular and busiest artists at Wizard World, Chris creates beautiful works, like "Tomb Raider: Lara’s Courage" seen below, as well as original pieces. He works in color and black and white. All are great.

In addition to all of his cool artwork, Chris is a big supporter of the Hero Initiative, a publicly supported nonprofit organization dedicated to helping comic book creators in need. The Hero Initiative assists artists with medical aid, financial support and seeking paid work. 

Check out ChrisEhnot.com for more info on Chris. Be sure to go to HeroInitiative.org to learn more about this wonderful organization. Also, go to WizardWorld.com for updates and news on future events.

Chris Ehnot and me in St. Louis, MO-April 2017.

David Vox Mullen at Wizard World Chicago 2017

As the pandemic still is causing issues, Wizard World has postponed all live conventions through July. The next scheduled con is August 21-24 in Chicago. While I look forward to Chicago, I am recalling some of the fun I have had over the years at Wizard World.

David Vox Mullen is a multi-talented friend. He is an actor, musician, producer, writer, director, podcaster and more. Basically, he is a top notch entertainer.

I had the pleasure of interviewing DVM for Hero TV. That interview can be found at HeroTV 2018 Episode 8: David Vox Mullen. My HeroTV co-host PL Myers and I talk to DVM for 30 minutes, getting his thoughts on comedy, his career, his future and more.

A big part of his future is the DVM Production Empire. Launched in 2009, the DVMPE has been bringing interesting and varied podcasts to audiences ever since. Topics include television comedy, music and just about everything else. The DVMPE s open to all sorts o content.

DVM is a great guy. I'm sure our paths crossed many times at Wizard World, without me even realizing it. Finally in 2017, we managed to actually meet there.

While physical cons are not happening, Wizard World has been doing some fun virtual cons. These cons have featured the casts of LA Law, The Vampire Diaries, Perfect Strangers and more. More are being announced regularly.Nothing can replace a physical Wizard World event, but these virtual cons area great way to fill that void.

For more info on the DVMPE, check out the DVMPE Facebook page. Also, check WizardWorld.com for updates on their virtual and live events.

David Vox Mullen and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

Where To Go?

As restrictions are being lifted, everyone is thinking about where they want to go. In "Where to Go?," my latest online contribution to Global Traveler, I posed that question for many friends im various places, jobs and stages in life.

I first met Victor Dandridge at Wizard World many years ago. A very talented artist, Victor is also a writer, publisher and more. He is the creator-owner of Vantage:Inhouse Productions. When answering my question, Victor said, “I’ve always had London on my visit wish list, and that’s pretty high up for me, but my lady is really keen on going to New Orleans for the first time.” Something tells me they will go to New Orleans first. LOL

I also got answers from writer and "King of all Geeks" Elliott Serrano, actress Andrea Evans, media personality and podcaster Jill Urchak, DePaul softball player Maranda Gutierrez, writer-author George Castle, former football player Dominique Collins, Howard Stern superfan Mariann from Brooklyn, reporter-host Amanda Ruller, Chicago Bandits assistant GM Jourdan Skirha, writer-director-producer Bobby Easley and onfield reporter Kacy Standohar. I got some expected answers and some interesting ones.

It was interesting to me to hear people from all ages, areas, places in life and locations give their thoughts on where they most wanted to go. The good thing for travel-related companies like GT is people are thinking of travel. After a few months of being locked up, people are anxious to get out.

For me, I just want to enjoy time with family and friends. I have only seen a couple friends since this all began (and that was only because of my ER trip).

Victor Dandridge Jr. and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2018.

Friend Encounters: Sammy Marshall and Tony Feddeler

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

With the National Pro Fastpitch 2020 season canceled, I have to get my softball fix by looking at old pictures. Today, I am featuring two good friends in a picture that makes me smile every time.

Tony Feddeler has been featured here many times. A fan of wrestling, softball, comic cons and other fun stuff, Tony and I have enjoyed many events together.

Somehow in one of our chats, I learned that Tony had never met Sammy Marshall, a local softball star from Western Illinois University who later became a star with the Chicago Bandits. Sammy was traded to the Cleveland Comets a couple seasons ago., but obviously still plays in Chicago when her new team plays here. I had to "fix" the situation for Tony.

I sent a message to Sammy and her mom prior to their arrival, mentioning I had a great friend who wanted to meet her. Although the teams usually take part in the post-game meet-and-greet, I did not want to take a chance.

Tony and I enjoyed a great afternoon of softball action at the ballpark in Rosemont and proceeded to make our way to the post-game fun. We met the Marshall family there and had some fun catching up with them while we waited or Sammy. When Sammy was one with meeting the rest of the fans, she joined us. Tony got his picture and I got a new one, of course.

Truth be told, Tony could have done this without me. The players are always super nice and approachable. Yet, I am happy to have facilitated this for Tony. He's a great guy and a great fan.

While the league is not playing this season, there is still stuff happening. Go to ChicagoBandits.com for more info on the Bandits and the league.

Tony Feddeler and Sammy Marshall in Rosemont, IL-July 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #482 Laurence Fishburne & Wesley Snipes

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Once again, we are working our way alphabetically through all of the Major League Baseball teams.

Born in Georgia, Laurence Fishburne has had a legendary acting career. Among other achievements, he was the first African American to portray Othello in a motion picture by a major studio when he appeared in Oliver Parker's 1995 film adaptation of the Shakespeare play. The San Francisco Giants invited Fishburne to throw out a ceremonial pitch, enabling him to get a Celebrity Jersey Card.

Wesley Snipes was born in Florida and made his film debut in Wildcats. He added to his sports movies with his appearance in the Major League series, as well as his role in The Fan. In The Fan, Snipes played a baseball player followed by the Robert DeNitro character. Snipes looked good in the movie and looks even better on his Celebrity Jersey Card.

The Midway Drive-In and Flashback Weekend

I have been going to Flashback Weekend every summer for many years. Mia is a cousin of my bud Cuzz Gekas, who also attended unbeknownst to me. How we never compared notes and made the connection is beyond me. Eventually, we did put it all together.

Flashback Weekend is a great convention held in August in Rosemont, IL:. I have met so many celebrities and had so many fun times there.

Mike and Mia are awesome people. They work very hard to make this event fun for all. I cannot thank them enough for the consideration and kindness they have shown me over the years.

Mike and Mia also own and operate the Midway Drive-In about 90 minutes west of Chicago. I wrote about it at A Night at the Midway Drive-In for Global Traveler.

Drive-In theaters have been on the decline since their peak in the 1950s. There are about 300 left in the country and the Midway Drive-In is the closest and the best. The drive-in is perfect for social distancing.

The Midway Drive-In is a combination of nostalgia and technology. Gone are the radio speakers. All audio is played over the radio. That's really the only major difference and it is a good one.

Unfortunately, during the current pandemic, the diner is closed, but patrons are allowed to bring in their own food for a nominal fee. The diner will eventually reopen, bringing back the full experience.

The Midway shows classics as well as current movies. Watching movies at night in the country is about as peaceful as it gets.

Go to FlashbackWeekend.com for more info on the convention. Check out MidwayDriveIn.com for more info on the drive-in.

Mi and Mike Kerz and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.

Heidi Steiner at Resistance

Resistance Pro Wrestling will always have a special place in my heart. Although the end wasn't great, nothing can take away the wonderful times  I had and the special people I met there.

Heidi Steiner, mother of Scotty "WonderBoy" Steiner, is one of the special folks. Not a wrestler and not an RPro "personality," Heidi was always one of the under-the-radar, unsung heroes of RPro. She did a little of everything, including giving great hugs.

When RPro started breaking apart, many people left for various reasons. I missed seeing my friends. After RPro was done and the Resistance rose from its ashes, a few old-timers returned on occasion. Heidi returned at one of the Resistance shows and everyone was happy to see her.

The RPro experience was bittersweet and filled with emotions. Things don't last and experiences don't always end well, but that doesn't take away from the good that occurred during that experience. Maybe time will heal the wounds and we can have a big reunion someday. I doubt it, but you never know.

I haven't seen Heidi since that one return. I haven't seen others at all. I miss what we had, but I appreciate it for what it was. At least I can say I also appreciated it all while it was happening. I made sure to soak in all of it.

Tommy Else and I have been reliving the history of RPro from our eyes. We discuss the events, the people, the good and the bad. You can find that and other fun podcasts on "The Or Else Network" on SoundCloud.

Heidi Steiner and me in Summit, IL-November 2017.

Eva Stees and the 2020 Northwestern Wildcats

Over the last couple days, I have featured Northwestern senior softballers Morgan Newport and Emma Bartz. Eva Stees is the third and final senior on the Wildcats.

A catcher-infielder, Eva describes Northwestern as her "dream school." Along with her softball carer, Eva is majoring in Environmental Sciences.

Like teammate Emma, Eva was mostly a pinch runner throughout her NU career. She appeared in 65 games, but only had six ABs. She shined on the base paths though, stealing five bases and scoring 23 runs.

As I wrote yesterday, being a part-time specialist isn't an easy role, but like Emma, Eva excelled in that role. She was a great team player.

I should have been covering the team over the last couple months. I should have joined Wildcats fans at Drysdale Field to cheer on Team Purple. The team should have had a great season and the seniors should have had a fun farewell.

Instead, I am forced to wish them luck and thank them here  for four awesome seasons. They deserve better, but that's out of our control. They are all quality people and I am sure they will move on to bigger and better things.

I hope to see Fall Ball in September. Until then, go to NUSports.com for news and updates.

Eva Stees and me in Evanston, IL-May 2019.

Emma Bartz and the 2020 Northwestern Wildcats

Yesterday, I featured Northwestern Wildcats senior softball player Morgan Newport. Today, I am highlighting her senior teammate Emma Bartz.
After a four year varsity career at Carmel Catholic in Mundelein, Bartz saw much of her playing time at NU as a pinch-runner. In 105 games, she had seven starts and 10 ABs. More importantly, she stole 25 bases and scored 35 runs.
Emma is a great team player. Every player wants to play regularly. Every player wants to bat. Emma practiced just as hard and was just as committed as anyone. It had to be difficult playing her role, but she did it well. It takes a special player to excel in a limited role, but Emma did just that.
Emma should be proud of her accomplishments. I know the coaches, teammates and fans loved Emma's attitude and performance.
If things were normal, I would have been covering the team and reporting about them over the last couple months. With the season halted and no home games played, I wanted to be able to publicly acknowledge and thank the players, especially the seniors like Emma.
I'm hoping to see Emma at future NU games. I am also hoping for Fall Ball in September. Until then, I'll be following the news and updates on the Wildcats at NUSports.com.

Emma Bartz and me in Evanston, IL-May 2019.

"The Southern Savior" John Skyler Loves Johngy's Beat

"The Southern Savior" John Skyler is a long time member of Resistance Pro Wrestling. He has drifted in and out a bit, as he also wrestled all over the world, including for the WWE and currently for All Elite Wrestling.

John is a talented wrestler in and out of the ring. He has worked hard to earn everything he has accomplished. It's great to see him get national exposure on AEW.

A little while back at a Resistance event, John was kind enough to cut a promo for Johngy's Beat. We appreciate that greatly. It's always extra cool having a champ on our side.

Thank you to John and be sure to watch for him on All Elite Wrestling. John is showing the world what Resistance fans already know!

Friend Encounters: Bill Watts and Glen Rylko

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

I first met Glen Rylko at a wrestling show. Over the years, Glen and his wife Alicia have become good friends of mine. It's always a pleasure seeing them at various conventions or wrestling events.

Glen is a knowledgeable wrestling fan. Actually, he is the best kind of fan. He knows and respects old school wrestling, but also enjoys attending modern independent wrestling shows. I always enjoy seeing Glen's social media posts featuring older wrestlers and memoriabilia.

One such post featured Cowboy Bill Watts. A legendary wrestler and promoter, Watts was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2009.

Glen met the Cowboy a few years prior to his HOF induction. I'll let Glen tell the story. 

This was taken in 2005 in Chicago Ridge, IL where he and Jim Cornette talked to Jim Zordani and Chitown Ridge in depth about wrestling history. We had them to ourselves for about 20 minutes. He autographed everything we had in exchange for some old WRESTLING LIFE sheets.

I asked Glen about the jersey he was wearing. I thought it might be a Watts jersey from his playing days. Glen told me it was actually a St. Xavier jersey. Cool either way.

I really appreciate Glen's friendship. He has invited me to his wrestling circle of friends and I have met some very nice and fun folks because of him. Glen and Alicia are special people and I am lucky to know them.

Glen Rylko and Bill Watts in Chicago Ridge, IL-Winter 2005.