Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series where I create virtual trading cards of celebrities wearing sports jerseys. With no football this weekend, I take a hockey break.
Rick Sutcliffe will forever be loved by Chicago Cubs fan because of his Cy Young award winning 1984 season, where he led the Cubs to the playoffs. A former Rookie of the Year, "The Red Baron" started with the Los Angeles Dodgers and played for the Cleveland Indians before joining the Cubs in an early season trade that helped spark their season. Sutcliffe pitched for the Cubs through the 1991 season, before finishing his career with the Baltimore Orioles for two seasons and the St. Louis Cardinals for his final year. Sutcliffe earned his Celebrity Jersey Card in the Shoot the Puck game day event for the Chicago Blackhawks
Musician Tom Morello is probably best known for his time with Rage Against the Machine and later Audioslave. He was born in New York, but raised in a western suburb of Chicago. Morello was ranked No. 40 in Rolling Stone magazine's list of the "100 Greatest Guitarists o All Time." Morello earned his Celebrity Jersey Card while in the stands with the fans.
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. More of my creations and a lot of other great creations can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards Facebook group (and not just baseball cards).
After a stellar career at Purdue, quarterback Mike Phipps was selected by the Cleveland Browns with the third overall pick in the 1970 NFL Draft. After two seasons of limited actyion, he became the started in 1973 and held the job for three seasons. In 1976, he gave way to Brian Sipe and was traded to the Chicago Bears after the season. Mostly a backup on the Bears, Phipps started 20 games over five seasons. He retired after the 1981 season.
For his efforts, Topps gave Phipps cards in every set from '71 through '82, except for '81. He started six games in '80, but Topps gave a card to Vince Evans, skipping longtime Bears QB Bob Avellini, I couldn't let that omission stand. I found a nice action shot of Phipps and filled in the '81 gap.
Florida native Kirsti Merritt was a star outfielder for the University of Florida. Over four seasons, in 250 games, Kirsti batted .306 with 36 home runs, 170 rbi's, 206 runs scored, 72 stolen bases and a .534 slugging percentage.
In her first year, she was the SEC Tournament MVP, while being named to the SEC All-Tournament Team. In her second season, she was a NCAA WCWS Champion. In her third year, she made first team All-SEC and in her final year, she made second team All-SEC.
In international play, Kirsti was a 2018 USA Softball International Cup Gold Medalist. In 2019, she was a 2019 Japan Cup Gold Medalist, a Pan American Games Gold Medalist and a USA Softball International Cup Gold Medalist.
After her career at Florida, Kirsti was selected in the 2016 National Pro Fastpitch College Draft by the USSSA Pride as the 25th overall pick. In her rookie NPF season, she hit .286 in 77 at-bats with 22 runs scored, two home runs, 10 rbi's and an .433 OBP.
Kirsti also played for Team USA on the international stage. Unfortunately, she did not make the 2020 (now 2021) Team USA Olympic roster. That simply shows how deep that roster is. kirsti is clearly one of the elite players in the United States.
I am sure Kirsti will be cheering on Team USA in the 2021 Olympics in July. I know I will be intently watching. I'll see so many friends and players I have watched. I'll also be thinking of players like Kirsti, who are so talented and don't get the exposure and recognition they deserve.
Born in Cincinnati, Ohio, Kelsey Mitchell was a star basketball player at Ohio State University. The Indiana Fever selected Kelsey with the second overall pick in the 2018 WNBA Draft.
In three seasons with the Fever, Kelsey has played 90 games, averaging 14.3 points, 1.8 rebounds and 2.7 assists per game. She also made the All-Rookie team in 2018.
Kelsey was kind enough to send a shout out to Johngy's Beat. I very much appreciate her thoughts, as well as her time and consideration in WNBA media sessions. In turn, I encourage everyone to go to WNBA.com to learn more about Kelsey, the Fever and the WNBA.
Rob Schamberger has been creating art for more than two decades. He is currently the Artist in Residence at the WWE, where he creates stunning artwork.
I had the pleasure of meeting and interviewing Rob a few years back. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Rob Schamberger.
Rob's journey into wrestling started with his stepfather. Once Rob watched wrestling, he got it and saw the great compatibility with art. I have always said the larger-than-life, colorful wrestling characters seem perfect for art.
Rob's first wrestling painting was of Harley Race, but he has done hundreds more since then. One of his latest is of Becky Lynch as seen below.
As you can see from the Lynch painting, Rob's paintings are bright, bold and colorful, just like the wrestlers. I'd love to see what Rob could do with the Johngy character, but that is a bit out of my price range and probably not even possible due to other demands on Rob's time.
Rob is a great guy, too. He is willing to discuss painting, art, wrestling and pretty much anything with his fans. I'd like to see his paintings as 8x10 photos to get signed, but that is up to the WWE.
Erika Pincastelli was a star softball player at McNeese State University. She is one of nine NCAA Division I softball hitters to finish her career with a.400 batting average, 200 RBI, 50 home runs and an .800% slugging career.
Born in Modena, Italy, Erika's family moved to California when she was five. She was a four time SLC Player and Hitter of the Year at McNeese State. Erika finished fourth in points in the first season of playing with Athletes Unlimited. She batted .327 with 9 HRs and 15 RBIs. Her 9 HRs tied her for the AU season lead. Erika has also played for the Italian National Team since 2016 and is aiming for Gold in the 2021 Olympics.
I appreciate Erika's comments and also her time and consideration during press sessions with Athletes Unlimited. Go to Olympics.org and AUProSports.com for more info on Erika, her teams and her softball journey.
I first met pro wrestler Sassy Stephie at Resistance Pro Wrestling in November 2011. I was new to the indy wrestling scene, but Stephie was already a veteran of about four years. I quickly became a fan. I interviewed Stephie a few times for RPro and always enjoyed those interactions.
It's been several years since I talked to Stephie, although I have followed her career ever since and we have communicated on social media a few times. Stephie has certainly kept busy over the years, including starting Talkin' Sass, her new podcast, which is why I reached out to her about an interview for Global Women's Sports Radio.
Already a fan of pro wrestling, Stephie's actual entrance as a performer is an interesting tale. She was working as a DJ at a bowling alley, when she was asked to substitute for a ring announcer for a local wrestling promotion. She soon started training and made her debut in 2007.
Over the years, in addition to RPro, Stephie has wrestled for Shimmer, Women Superstars Uncensored, Ring of Honor and other promotions. She won titles on several occasions, as a singles wrestler and as part of a tag team. She also made the Pro Wrestling Illustrated Female 50 list a few times. We talk about all of that in our interview.
We also discuss her fandom of the Cleveland Browns. In one of our earlier interviews, we commiserated about the woeful state of her Browns and my Chicago Bears. This season, she had plenty of enjoyment as the Browns had a great season. Stephie is no fair-weather, bandwagon-jumper fan either. She goes back to cheering for Bernie Kosar's teams in her youth.
As much fun as all that talk was, we moved on to Talkin' Sass, the main reason for the interview. Previous to the podcast, Stephie ventured into other areas of entertainment outside of wrestling several times, including a stint hosting on the Fireball Run television series. With that background and her natural charisma, a podcast is the perfect vehicle for Stephie.
Although she admits wrestling is her niche, the podcast isn't all about wrestling. For Halloween, actor and producer Brian O'Halloran joined Stephie for a fun-filled episode. Other episodes featured Jimmy Kordaris, Ricardo Rodriguez, Lufisto and several other interesting folks from the world of wrestling. She also had “Hardcore” Heather Owens, another RPro alum. She has had an interesting mix of guests, who haven't been overexposed on other podcasts.
As I told her in the interview, I already was a loyal listener before even asking for the interview. It's a lot of fun, whether you are a wrestling fan or not. Although I looked forward to each episode, I also made sure to subscribe to her channel on YouTube to make sure I didn't miss any.
While Talkin' Sass is still relatively new to the podcast scene, it is quickly growing in popularity. Stephie shared the names of a few future guests, as well as a couple on her “wish list.” Bernie Kosar, if you're reading this, you need to join Stephie on Talkin' Sass!
It was great catching up with Stephie. I very much appreciate her time and consideration. I encourage everyone to check out Talkin' Sass.
Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.
I met Jonathan Cimaglio at a Chicago Bandits game a few years back, when he was getting pictures and autographs with the players. I learned he is quite a "grapher," as he puts it. He literally has thousands of autographs from athletes and celebrities of all sorts.
Cimags takes it to an pro level. He has the techniques down and gets the big names. He has a YouTube channel featuring videos documenting some of his chases, as well as his Pokemon pursuits.
Victoria Draper was a softball star at Auburn Universoty. She played in the NPF with the Cleveland Comets, which is how Cimags met her. She went on to become a coach for the National Team of China.
Meeting Draper was one of his easiest successes. She was appearing at a pre-game tailgate during the NPF playoffs a few years back. I might have even taken this picture. Cimags and I have helped each other many times in our attempts to get pictures.
Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards fo celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I am featuring two teams bounced from the NFL playoffs last week.
As the daughter of th legendary Mick Foley, Noelle Foley grew up in the world of pro wrestling. She is still hovering around that world, although an injury sidelined her wrestling career. Noelle comes to her Los Angeles Rams fandom through her boyfriend Frank (aka Frank the Clown). For her Celebrity Jersey Card, Noelle Foley donned Jared Goff's #16 jersey. Noelle almost makes me want to root for the Rams.
The Amazing Samantha is a professional wrestler. Samantha has been ranked in PWIs Top 100 Female wrestlers, reaching a peak of #56 in 2019. Samantha wore Baker Mayfield's #6 jersey for a selfie to earn her Celebrity Jersey Card. All I can say is "Amaqzing."
This is Mascot Week. All week, I featured some of my favorite fuzzy creatures. Today I finish with one of the all time greats.
Who better to start Mascot Week than the San Diego Chicken, perhaps the most famous of all mascots. Originally featured in an animated television commercial, the San Diego Chicken came to life when Ted Giannoulas was hired to wear the first chicken suit in 1974. the 20 year old journalism major made the most of this opportunity.
A baseball fan, Giannoulas talked the San Diego Padres into allowing him to perform at games. First, he passed out eggs containing prizes to fans in the stands, but eventually worked his way onto the field with his various skits.
In 1979, a dispute between Giannoulas and the Padres led to his firing and replacement. Things went much better for Giannoulas than the replacement Chicken, who was roundly booed at every game.
Renamed the Famous Chicken or simply the Chicken, Giannoulas went on to perform all over the world. After an estimated more than 5,000 performances, the Chicken is still ruling the roost. A few years ago at the National Sports Collectors Convention, the Chicken was one of the most popular attractions. At a show featuring many Hall of Fame athletes and thousands of collectibles, that's qute an accomplishment.
I could not get an interview with the Chicken or Giannoulas, but I made sure I got my picture with the famous bird. As a fan of mascots, this was about as cool as it gets.
Go to FamousChicken.com for more info on this crazy bird. I guarantee, you will not be in a foul mood, because the site does not lay an egg.
This is Mascot Week. All week I am featuring encounters with my favorite mascots.
Sky Guy was introduced in a ceremony at the Lincoln Park Zoo. His real first name is Guy, but "Sky" was added when he became a fan of the Chicago Sky. Sky Guy has five older sisters and spent a lot of his childhood playing basketball with them. Sky Guy invented his jet pack as a way to travel in search of the best of women's basketball.
I have met Sky Guy several times at various events. This picture was when Sky Guy appeared at a Chicago bandits game to help celebrate the birthday of Swiper, the Bandits mascot. It was a major mascot invasion at the Ballpark in Rosemont and I loved it.
This is Mascot Week. All week. I am featuring some of my favorite fuzzy creatures.
Rusty the RailCat debuted for the Gary RailCats in 2002. His backstory reveals he grew up near the tracks in Gary and fell in love with baseball, catnip and hot dogs.
For his first 15 years of existence, Rusty had a big tummy (aided by a lot of padding inside the suit). During the 2017 season, the organization decided the Rusty needed a new costume. At the same time, health insurance provider Anthem signed on as Rusty's sponsor. It only made sense to give Rusty a new trimmed-down look.
The new costume was no longer all fur, like the previous one. Instead, fur was replaced by mesh under the jersey. This made the costume cooler under the sun, and also allowed Rusty to model special jerseys and shirts. It was the perfect marriage of form meets function.
Rusty makes appearances away from the ballpark, too, but you'll never see a duplicate Rusty. There is only one Rusty appearance at any given time.
I had the pleasure of meeting Rusty at a Chicago Bandits game. Rusty and several other fuzzy friends were there to celebrate Bandits mascot Swiper's birthday.
This is Mascot Week. All week. I am featuring some of my favorite fuzzy creatures.
DePaul's mascot causes me angst. Back during my days on campus, I think the mascot was named Barney. At some point in the last few years, the mascot got a makeover. The thought was to make him appear edgier, perhaps even fiercer. The result was DIBS.
DIBS actually stands for Demon in a blue suit. I'm not really sold on that acronym. Doesn't stating that it is a blue suit take away from the mascotness of the whole thing? I know, we all know it is someone in a suit, but why announce that? Also, isn't that a bit clunky when explaining it to kids, who are probably the biggest fans of the mascot?
It just seems unnecessarily complicated in an attempt to be clever. I give that part a giant fail.
I do like the look of DIBS though. It is a darker blue than the previous mascot. The face is less goofy, if there is such a comparative among mascots.
The questions becomes, does a bad name take away from a great mascot? Ultimately, I will always side with the mascot. I guess I can give DIBS a pass. I will take my own advice and simply enjoy the mascot for all his furry, goofiness.
This is Mascot Week. All week I am featuring some fun mascot encounters.
Xavier's Blue Blob is one of the most interesting mascots. Originally created in 1985 as a kid-friendly alternative to D'Artagnan, the Blue Blob has been a source of fun and conversation ever since.
What is the Blue Blob? That's debatable and people have been debating it for 35 years. What is not up for question is that it is good for business. If you Google "weird mascot" or "odd mascot," the Blue Blob will definitely appear in the search results. I'd call that a success.
Also, with the Blue Blob and D'Artagnan, Xavier has two cool mascots and two mascots are always better than one!
I met the Blue Blob when the DePaul Blue Demons women's basketball team faced Xavier in the Big East Conference championship tourney. DePaul won, but so did I, because I met a lot of fun mascots.
Xavier Blue Blob and me in Chicago, IL-March 2019.
Friend Encounters is a weekly series in which I feature friends who have met celebrities. Mascot Week starts with a Special Friendly Encounters edition.
Although the Mascot Hall of Fame technically opened late in 2018, the official grand opening was in April of 2019. Of course, I could not miss that event and I managed to drag Nancy with me. I wrote about the experience online for Global Traveler at Mascot Hall of Fame.
The day was actually a bit of a disappointment. A bunch of mascots were advertised and with my fascination of mascots, I wanted to meet them. Unfortunately, the mascots appeared in shifts and nobody really knew the schedules.
We waited around a while and finally met Reggy, the Hall of Fame's mascot. We may have even raced ahead of some kids to get to him first.By then, we had been there about an hour and had pretty much seen all there was.
The museum is aimed more for kids, but there are some interesting things for adults, too. There are a bunh of interactive displays, again aimed mostly at kids, including a "build a mascot" station in the gift shop.
I had waited with anticipation for a long time for the Mascot Hall of Fame to open. It was cool to finally see it. I am sure it will continue to grow and to add new features. I am sure I will be back there later this year to see what's new.
Today starts Mascot Week, where I feature some of my favorite mascots I have met. Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series featuring celebrities who have worn sports jerseys. Mascot Week starts with a special Mascot edition of Celebrity Jersey Cards. Many mascots wear the jersey of their team, but these Celebrity Jersey Cards will show those mascots wearing the jerseys of other teams.
Bailey debuted as the mascot of the Los Angeles Kings in 2007. He is 6 feet tall (6'4" if you count his mane). He was named after Garnet "Ace" Bailey, former Director of Pro Scouting for the Kings, who died in the 9/11 terrorist attack. He wears #72 because it is the average temperature of Los Angeles. Bailey is actually the second mascot the Kings have had. The first was a leopard named Kingston, who now serves as the mascot for the Kings AHL affiliate Ontario Reign. Bailey donned a San Diego Chargers jersey for their playoff run one season to earn his celebrity jersey card. Bailey was involved in a twitter feud with former wrestler and Chicago Balckhawks fan CM Punk.
Mariner Moose debuted for the Seattle Mariners in 1990. Originally, Mariner Moose was not liked by the fans. Rumor has it the team actually sent him to learn from the Phillie Phanatic. Mariner Moose eventually won over the fans. An odd incident occurred in the 1995 American League playoffs, when Mariner Moose and Slider (the Cleveland Indians mascot) both were hurt in the series. Because Bailey lost a fun bet with the New England Patriots mascot, he was forced to wear a Tom Brady jersey, thus earning his Celebrity Jersey Card.
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 see a lot of my creations and many more from other more talented folks on the Custom Baseball Cards Facebook group (and there are not just baseball cards there).
After an excellent career at Northwestern State University of Louisiana, Jackie Smith was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round of the 1963 NFL Draft. Smith went on to a Hall of Fame career, playing 15 seasons with the Cardinals, before finishing his career with one season with the Dallas Cowboys. The tight end finally made it to the Super Bowl with the Cowboys in that last season.
Smith made a clutch catch in the 1978 NFC Championship game, but unfortunately it was his play in the Super Bowl that is too often mostly remembered. Smith dropped a pass in the end zone which would have tied the score. The Cowboys went on to lose the game and Smith's play is often cited, although it wasn't the only missed opportunity for the Cowboys that day.
For his efforts, Smith received cards in sets from 1967 through 1976, missing '64-'66 and '77-'79. Early pictures were hard to find. I had to settle for making cards for '66 and '77-'79. For the "career capper" of '79, I made two versions. One shows his infamous Super Bowl moment, but the other is a better shot, more deserving of the HOFer.
Last night, the DePaul Blue Demons cruised to an easy 101-84 win over St. John's. The win came after an eight day layoff caused by the postponement of games against Butler and Creighton. The Blue Demons showed absolutely no rust from the long break.
DePaul scored first and never lost the lead. Their biggest lead was 26 points midway through the third quarter.
DePaul led in most team categories, except for bench points, with St. John's outscoring DePaul 19-6. DePaul led in points in the paint (56-48), points from turnovers (27-12), second chance points (19-9) and fast break points (33-30).
The points off the bench discrepancy is a bit misleading, as DePaul relied heavily on their starters throughout the game. DePaul head coach Doug Bruno discussed the aggressive play of the Blue Demons, despite the large lead. It's about keeping the team sharp and consistent (as opposed to showing up an opponent). Bruno mentioned being on both ends of that situation, stating all coaches understand the mindset and nobody takes offense.
DePaul led 26-14 after one quarter, 51-31 at halftime and 82-60 after three quarters. DePaul shot 48.2% from the field, 36% from three point land and 75% from the free throw line.
Dee Bekelja topped the scoring chart for DePaul with 22 points, but Lexi Held was right behind with 21. Deja Church (18), Jorie Allen (17) and Sonya Morris (17) all hit double digits. Darrione Rogers, Jolene Daninger and Kiara Dallman added two points each.
Church paced the team with nine rebounds and seven others grabbed at least one rebound. Morris had nine assists, missing a double double by one, while Held pitched in with seven assists. Seven Blue Demons had at least one steal in Bruno's suffocating defense.
Qadashah Hoppie (28) and Kadaja Bailey (22) were the only St. John's players to score double digits. Bailey also had eight rebounds and four assists.
Right from the opening tip, it seemed like the teams were in a race to 100 points. DePaul won that race with about a 30 seconds left in the game.
DePaul now stands at 7-3 and 4-1 in Big East Conference play. Coming into the game, the Blue Demons were ranked 19 by the Associated Press and 25 by the USA Today/Coaches poll.
Barring any more postponements, DePaul is set to return to action against Georgetown on Saturday, January 16 in Washington, D.C. The following games against Villanova (January 20) and Providence (January 23) have already been postponed, leaving Xavier in Cincinnati as the next game after Georgetown. Of course, things can change quickly in this pandemic.
In the post-game presser, Coach Bruno, Bekelja and Held answered game-specific questions, as well as usual. Bekelja also talked about feeling “on” early in the game and any extra fun from playng on national television. Held discussed the conditioning needed to play Bruno's aggressive defense for an entire game.
Bruno was his usual humble and respectful self. Despite the relatively easy win, he was quick to compliment St. John's. Even in discussing keeping the defensive pressure in high gear with such a big lead, Bruno passionately stated it is his style and everyone knows and respects it, just as he respects the styles of others. In the end, it is all about making the team better and preparing them for the rest of the season.
Bruno also talked about the loss of freshman Kendall Holmes, who went down with an Achilles tear earlier in the week. Everyone has to step up to help fill that void.
I always like to meet other media folks covering events. At C2E2 2019, I saw two such folks really getting into the spirit of things.
WCIU's Jon Hansen and Brandon Pope were dressed appropriately for a comic con. If not for their microphones and cameras, I never would have recognized them.
They were getting video clips for WCIU. They even asked me a question, but I have no idea if it ever ran. Still, I was not going to miss an opportunity to take a picture with media brethren.
This is further proof you never know who you might see and how they might be dressed. I was actually dressed more traditionally business-like than they were. That's a rarity for me.
C2E2 2021 has been postponed until December, but hopefully by then, we will be able to really enjoy it. Until then, go to C2E2.com for more info. Also, check out Hansen and Pope at WCIU.com.
Jon Hansen, Brandon Pope and me in Chicago, IL-March 2019.
Today is my brother-in-law Scott Parker's birthday. It is the one day a year I do not take any shots at him.
Over the years of these tributes, I have called Scott a BIL, mentor, friend, brother and more. A couple years back, he also added grandpa to his lengthy resume. It's a role fit perfectly for him.
It's odd seeing him (or my sister) as a grandparent. Weren't we just all in our 20s?
Yet there he is. Grandpa Scott. Delaney is one lucky little girl. Actually, I am lucky, too.
I am sure you are enjoying your day in the Florida sunshine, but I am saluting you from frigid Chicago. Happy birthday, Scott!
Scott and Delaney in Watervliet, MI-February 2019.
Last Friday, I interviewed Chauntiel Smith-Jones, President and CEO of the Capture Sports Agency for GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com. Smith-Jones had an interesting path on her way to founding the sports agency and her future looks just as fascinating.
Born and raised in Fort Wayne, Indiana, Smith-Jones once had dreams of a career in the WNBA. When she decided that was not going to happen, despite her being an excellent athlete, she turned her focus to the related field of representing athletes.
On the surface, that seems to be a ordinary story, but delving deeper, I learned Smith-Jones is not an ordinary person. She is extraordinary in every aspect, as is the Capture Sports Agency.
In our interview, Smith-Jones discusses the role her faith played in her creation of CSA and the role it plays within CSA. It was refreshing to hear how she integrates faith into her profession. She's not preachy, but when you have a deep faith like she does, it comes through clearly.
She talks about the type of athletes CSA pursues. It isn't all about money for CSA (although obviously as a business, it is a factor, just not the main focus). CSA is about positivity and partnerships. It is easy to see that positivity starts with Smith-Jones.
In covering sports and entertainment, I have dealt with many agents. I have never talked to one as positive, excited and yet calm as Smith-Jones. Her passion is palpable, but not once did she brag about her accomplishments. She really didn't have to brag though. Her resume speaks volumes.
We also talked about the social justice movement and women advancing in sports, two hot topics right now. Smith-Jones expressed her views eloquently and positively (yes positivity again), without criticizing opposing viewpoints. It is people like Smith-Jones who will play important roles in those issues going forward.
Lastly, we had a little fun with lighter topics, like her favorite sports teams, her vacation destination goals, her ultimate sports fantasy and more. You can tell I admire her immensely, because when she proudly stated she is a fan of the Green Bay Packers, I didn't let my fandom for the Chicago Bears try to stifle her. We joked a bit about the rivalry.
I really enjoyed learning more about Smith-Jones in my pre-interview research and even more as I talked to her. As the interview ended I felt so positive. It has been a rough week in this country, but people like Smith-Jones give me hope for the future.
I hope to revisit Smith-Jones in the future as she conquers new goals. Until then, I will follow her and CSA at CaptureSportsAgency.com.
Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.
I have never met Amanda, but we have been long distance friends for several years. She is high on my list of people I want to meet though.
I first became aware of Amanda because of her Legends Football League career. She played for the Los Angeles Temptation and the Atlanta Steam. She was even kind enough to do a promo for me, despite never meeting me..
Prior to playing in the LFL, native Canadian Amanda was an outstanding athlete at the University of Regina. Not just an athlete, Amanda achieving a Bachelors of Kinesiology degree. Currently, among other activities, Amanda is the Game Day host, a reporter, a coach and one of the most positive people I have ever known.
Late in 2019, Amanda met Don Narcisse, a Canadian Football League Hall of Fame wide receiver. He played 13 seasons for the Saskatchewan Roughriders, catching 919 passes for 12,366 yards and 75 touchdowns in 216 games. He holds or held many records.
Amanda was excited to meet Narcisse and I am sure he was just as excited to meet her. You don't meet many Hall of Famers, but you also don't meet many people like Amanda. She is a Hall of Famer in life.
Amanda is so much fun to follow on social media. You will see feats of strength, exercise routines and tips, fun bits from her daily professional and personal life and more. It always includes a smiling Amanda. She seemingly never frowns. Amanda's social media pages are a regular stop in my circuit. She never fails to brighten my mood.
You can follow Amanda at @Amanda on Instagram. You'll see her professional stuff, as well as all sorts of other fun.
Amanda and Don Narcisse in Houston, TX-December 2019.
Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards fo celebrities wearing sports jerseys. I'm featuring my Chicago Bears and their opponent this week in the playoffs.
Sweden born Marcus Kruger was drafted by the Chicago Blackhawks Kruger played in Switzerland last season. Kruger was one of several Blackhawks to make a special appearance at a Bears game. On his Celebrity Jersey Card, Kruger wore his familiar #16 (not just for Bears punter Pat O'Donnell) and was joined by former teammate Andrew Shaw.
Wrestler Velvet Sky has probably made more football Celebrity Jersey Cards than anyone else because of her NFL poster line on RatedV.net. This time, Velvet is wearin a New Orleans Saints jersey for her Celebrity Jersey Card. Coincidentally, Velvet is wearing #80, from former Saints tight end Jimmy Graham, who has been a big part of the Bears success this season.
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. More of my creations and many great creations of others can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards Facebook group (and not just baseball cards).
Jim Zorn was a QB at Cal-Poly Pomona before signing as a free agent with the Seattle Seahawks prior to their first game. He played nine seasons with the Seahawks and one with the Green Bay Packers. He also played one game with the Tampa Bay Buccaneers in 1987, but I believe that was because of the strike. All told, he played 140 games, starting 106. He threw for 21,115 yards on a 53% completion percentage, with 111 TDs and 141 INTs.
For his efforts, Topps gave Zorn a card from 1977 through 1983. That left 1984-'86 and possibly '88. I could not find any pictures of Zorn with the Bucs, but I was able to create cards for 1984-'86.
The saga of Tammy Sytch is filled with incredible highs and lows. While she certainly has her share of detractors and some of her problems were self-inflicted, I still have a soft spot for "the original diva of the WWE."
Sytch started in wrestling traveling with her boyfriend wrestler Chris Candido. By 1992, she signed with Smoky Mountain Wrestling to be a valet. She gained popularty very quickly and joined the (then) WWF in 1995. As "Sunny", she managed several tag temas to tiles, while also serving as a host, interviewer and merchandise model. At one point, Sytch was the most downloaded celebrity on AOL (back when that was a thing).
Unfortunately, Sytch encountered problems with addictions and romances, which basically ended her wrestling career. She had one more shining moment when she was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2011, but has continued her roller coaster ride in life since.
Sytch has spent a lot of the last couple years in jail. While the offenses weren't major, they were numerous and continual. Obviously, Sytch needs help.
She has been criticized by many who once supported her and she caused much of her problems, to be honest. Yet, I can't help but feel for her.
Sytch has always been great with me. She has done interviews and promos (at no charge). She always has time to talk to me at various events and even online. She has been nothing but sweet and funny in any interaction, when she has nothing to gain from it. This is far from the reputation which some like to spread. I am not defending her actions elsewhere, but it's important to show the whole picture. I am sure I am not the only one who has had pleasant experiences with her. Instead of turning on her and piling on, we should rally around her and hope she gets the help she needs. I do not claim to be inside her head, but something is causing this behavior.
While her "Sunny" days might literally and figuratively be behind her, Sytch has a lot to offer in or out of the entertainment business. Even more important, life has a lot to offer her. I sincerely hope my next update on Sytch is a great one.
Terry Huddleston was one of the first artists I ever met at Motor City Comic Con. Over the years, I bug, I mean visit him at any comic con we both attend.
Of course, the first question I ever asked him was if he had any old school Aquaman art, which of course he did. He pretty much has most every superhero in his portfolio. Along with his first Aquaman, he added a new version, which is beautiful, even though I prefer the old school version.
Terry's creations go beyond superheros though. He covers the world of pop culture and fiction.I have always said he should venture into the world of wrestling. His colors and style are bold and larger than life, like the wrestlers. I would love to see what he could do with Rowdy Roddy Piper, The Undertaker and the rest of the gang.
Terry is a great guy. He's always willing to talk art or anything else. It's creators like Terry who are such a vital part of comic cons. I realy feel for these folks who had so much taken away last year. I know they are creative and found other avenues to sell and promote their work, but I really hope comic cons return soon for them and for me, of course. I miss seeing my friends like Terry.
The No. 20/21 DePaul Blue Demons didn't plan on playing Monday, but those plans changed over the weekend when the BIG EAST rescheduled a game against Villanova for Monday. Despite the short notice, the Blue Demons rose to the challenge and defeated the Wildcats 94-82.
The first quarter was tight, with DePaul edging Villanova 20-19, but DePaul broke it open in the second to take a 54-43 halftime lead. DePaul outscored Villanova 40-39 in the second half to secure the victory. DePaul held the lead for 35:22 to Villanova's 2:50. There were only three lead changes and three ties, as DePaul was in control throughout the game.
DePaul's Sonya Morris paced her team with 22 points, edging out Darrione Rogers who had 21 points. Lexi Held (18), Deja Church (13) and Dee Bekelja (12) also scored in double digits. Jorie Allen added eight points to finish the DePaul scoring. The trio of Rogers, Held and Morris shot 12-of-22 from behind the arc (54.5 percent).
Madison Siegrist, the BIG EAST’s leading scorer and rebounder, scored 31 and had nine rebounds to lead Villanova. She also had five assists, a steal and four blocked shots.
Villanova led DePaul in point in the paint (44-36), fast break points (25-17) and bench points 24-21). Second chance points belonged to DePaul (10-7).
The Blue Demons are fourth in the nation in forcing turnovers. They forced Villanova into 19 on Monday. DePaul’s full-court pressure has forced 23 or more turnovers in every game except three this season.
DePaul improved to 6-3 and 3-1 in the BIG EAST. The Blue Demons hit the road for a game at Butler on Thursday and then return to Wintrust Arena for a Sunday matchup against Creighton,
The rescheduling was a main topic in the post game press session as DePaul Coach Doug Bruno, Sonya Morris and Darrione Rogers fielded questions. As DePaul Assistant Director of Athletics Communications Bob Sakamoto said, "This is life in the pandemic." Everyone is basically ready for anything. It's not ideal, but at least basketball is being played again.
When I last saw Art Baltazar, Joey Roth was interviewing him for Johngy's Beat at C2E2. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Art Baltazar.
Art is an extremely talented comics creator. His comic book store Aw Yeah is located just blocks from my house. It is as cool of a store as Art is. I don't read a lot of comics, but when I need to get one, Aw Yeah is my go-to spot.
One comic I recently got is Arkhamaniacs, which Art mentioned in the interview. It is a graphic comic novel Art published with creator friend Franco. It is the story of a young Bruce Wayne trying to uncover some fun mysteries at an apartment building in Gotham City. It's mysterious, light-hearted and highly entertaining, just like Art!
If you're ever in Skokie, check out Aw Yeah Comics. If you ever see him at a comic con stop by his booth for fun. Until then, check ArtBaltazar.com for more info on Art and all of his endeavors.
Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.
Scott Bridges is co-owner of Bridges Scoreboard, a great sports bar/restaurant in Griffith, Indiana. Locates very close to my dad's home, it is a regular dining and sports-watching spot for my dad and me.
In addition to great food, a friendly staff and a fun atmosphere, Bridges Scoreboard occasionally brings in athletes for meet and greets. These events are better than the usual athlete appearance. Most guest athletes arrive early, stay late and give everyone special time and attention.
The pandemic disrupted everything, but Bridges Scoreboard is still open. Hopefully in 2021, athlete apearances will return, too.
Go to BridgesScoreboard.com for more info. Also, check the Bridges Scoreboard Facebook page for more frequent updates.
Eddie Olczyk and Scott Bridges in Griffith, IN-January 2020.
Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Today, I feature two New York teams not in the playoffs.
The New York Giants might not be in the playoffs, but former Yankees pitcher Mariano Rivera had plenty of playoff experiences. Born in Panama, Rivera pitched in 96 playoff games, going 8-1 with 42 saves and a 0.70 ERA. Oddly, 42 was also his number. For his Celebrity Jersey card, Rivera wore Eli Manning's #10, instead of hsi usual #42. He was elected into the Baseball HOF in 2019.
Lawrence Tureaud was born in Chicago, Illinois, but rose to fame as Mr. T. on tv's The A Team. T also had a big role in Rocky III, as well as a being a featured performer in several wrestling events, including boxing "Rowdy" Roddy Piper at WrestleMania II. Why Chicago guy T was wearing a Jets jersey is unknown, but at least he wore Joe Namath's #12.
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. More of my creations and many great creations of others can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards Facebook group (and not just baseball cards).
Sean Payton had a great career at Eastern Illinois University. Those teams earned the nickname "Eastern Airlines" because of their powerful passing attack. Depite that success, Payton wasn't selected in the 1987 NFL draft.
Like Tuesday's feature Mike Hohensee, Payton signed with the Chicago Bears as a replacement player for the striking NFL regulars. He appeared in three games, going 8-23 for 79 yards with no touchdowns and one interception.
Payton also played in the Arena Football League, the Canadian Football League and other pro leagues, too. He played for the Chicago Bruisers, Pittsburgh Gladiators, Ottawa Rough Riders, and Leicester Panthers.
He began coaching as an assistant at San Diego State in 1988. After a few college stints, he joined the NFL as a QB coach for the Philadelphia Eagles in 1997. He also coached for the New York Giants and the Dallas Cowboys, before becoming head coach of the New Orleans Saints in 2006.
Payton did not receive a Topps card in 1988. His three games did not merit one, but that doesn't stop me from wanting to give him one. I turned to my friend Lynn from the previously mentioned FB group, who came through as always.
The Chicago Comic and Entertainment Expo (C2E2) has been postponed until December 2021. I'll be back "On the Beat" there, but for now I am recalling some of the fun over previous years there.
Sorah Suhng has been a comic book artist since 2007. She has worked for Variant Comics, Marvel Comics and Image Comics.
In addition to all of her work for others, Sorah is the owner and creator of Karnal Sin. This is really a work of love for Sorah. She describes it as a love story featuring a villain instead of a hero. It follows her adventures in a futuristic world. The tag line is "When bad meets worse." The villain might be bad, but the story and especially the art is great!
I first met Sorah a few years ago at C2E2 and I marveled at her awesome art. She is now primarily a penciller and illustrator. She has done commissions, but is not offering them right now.
Go to C2E2.com for more info and follow C2E2 on Facebook for more frequent updates. Also go to SorahSuhng.com for more info on this talented artist.
