Celebrity Jersey Cards #523 Candace Parker & Bonnie Gillespie

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards of celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I feature athletes repping the Chicago Bulls.

Born in St. Louis, MO, but raised in the Chicago suburbs, Candace Parker starred at Naperville Central High School and Tennessee, before joining the WNBA Los Angeles Saprks. Recently, Parker returned home by signing a free agent contract with the Chicago Sky. Parker donned a Bulls jersey as part of the NBA All-Star game festivities in Chicago in 2020 to earn her Celebrity Jersey Card. Her #9 jersey is curious, as she wore #3 with the Sparks.and Tennessee and #32 in high school. Luol Deng and Ronb Harper are the most notable Bulls to sport that number.

I met Australian Bonnie Gillespie through the Legends Football League. Because she played in her native land, I have not met her yet, but I am hoping someday it happens. Bonnie moved from football to MMA fighting, where she destroyed her first opponent. Bonnie has overcome a lot in her life and "the little nugget" is an inspiration. She wore the classic MJ #23 jersey while striking a single bicep pose and securing a place in Celebrity Jersey Card history.

Cards That Never Were: Norm Van Lier Topps 1979-80

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).
After a successful collegiate career at St. Francis University, Norm Van Lier was selected by the Chicago Bulls in the 3rd round of the 1969 NBA draft. He was immediately traded to the Cincinnati Royals. He led the NBA in assists in the '70-71 season, but was traded back to the Bulls in the '71-72 season. "Stormin' Norman" became one of the most popular Bulls, as well as making three All-Star teams. He finished his NBA career with one season with the Milwaukee Bucks in '78-79. All told, he played in 746 games during his 10 seasons, averaging 11.8 points, 7 assists and 4.68 rebounds per game.
For his efforts, Topps gave Van Lier cards in every set from '70-71 through '78-79. That only left a "career capper" from his year with the Bucks.

DePaul WBB Drops Second Straight

The DePaul Blue Demons took a double-digit loss for the second game in a row. Maruqtte, DePaul's rivals across the northern border, came to Wintrust and got a big 85-71 victory.

Marquette got off to a fast start and held the lead for most of the game. DePaul only managed to lead for 2:02 compared to Marquette's 34:31. DePaul's biggest lead was six and they last held the lead ealy in the second quarter. Marquette was basically in control throughout the game. It was 18-15 Marquette after one quarter, but DePaul did manage to tie it at 33 at halftime. Marquette pulled ahead to stay in the third quarter, leading 63-56. They expanded that lead in the fourth quarter to win by 14.

Marquette also won every major category. Marquette outscored DePaul on turnovers (20-26), in the paint (66-36), on second chances (20-9), on fast breaks (20-10) and off the bench (6-3). 

DePaul shot 38.9% from the field, 21.4% from three point land and 85.7% from the free thrown line. Marquette shot 50.7%, 16.7% and 70.0% respectively.

Lexi Held paced DePaul with 23 points. Sonya Morris had 128 and Deja Church had 10. Three others only had single digit points, including Jorie Allen (9), Dee Bekelja (8) and Darrione Rogers (3). Allen's six rebounds paced DePaul on the boards.

Selena Lott's 25 paced Marquette. Camryn Taylor nabbed 11 rebounds to lead that category.

DePaul Coach Doug Bruno seemed as frustrated as ever, as he shouted plays and substituted players in an effort to change the course of the game. Unfortunately, this just wasn't DePaul's night.

DePaul came into the game ranked No. 24/23. The Blue Demons now sit at 13-6, 10-4 in BIG EAST Conference play. They return to action Saturday with a noon tipoff at Providence that will be televised on the BIG EAST Digital Network.

Go to DePaulBlueDemons.com for more info on the team. Check here, GlobalTravelerUSA.com, Patch.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for more coverage of the DePaul Women's basketball team.

Gavin Smith At Motor City Comic Con 2017

Based in Indianapolis, Indiana, Gavin Smith is a freelance artist. He is the artist for The Accelerators, Ghost in the Shell, and Gregory Graves. He has also a ton of other work, including creating and self publishing his own comic book Human City.

I have met Smith several times, including at Motor City Comic Con in 2017. Unfortunately I have never had the chance to talk to him about his enthusiasm for corgis, the generally happy little pups. I'd like to ask if he every incorporated corgis in his work and if not, will he ever do so. It would be cool to see the cheerful dogs mixed with his illustrations.

Check out Gavin Smith's website to learn more about him and his work. Go to MotorCityComicCon.com for more info and follow MCCC on Facebook for more frequent updates. 

Gavin Smith and me in Novi, MI-May 2017.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #522 Alexa Bliss & Barbie Blank

This is a regular series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys.

When last we saw Alexa Bliss here, she was wearing a New York Yankees jersey. Today, she earns her second Celebrity Jersey Card by moving west to rep the Columbus Blue Jackets. Seemingly, this wasn't even part of her beloved cosplaying. Already the winner of championships seven times, Bliss is a rising star in the WWE, who has overcome an eating disorder.

Barbie Blank rose to fame as the double named Kelly Kelly. She won the Divas title once and the 24/7 title, too,,before leaving pro wrestling. Blank was part of an intermission event at a Syracuse Crunch game, thus earning her another Celebrity Jersey Card. We have previously seen Blank repping the Chicago Blackhawks and the Arizona Diamondbacks.

DePaul WBB Cold in Loss to Creighton

 Creighton University turned the tables on No. 19 DePaul by taking an early lead and cruising to an 83-72 victory. This was the third straight season Creighton beat DePaul at Wintrust Arena.

Creighton held the lead for 31:27 to DePaul's 7:06. There were only three lead changes and one tie, as Creighton stayed in control of the game. Creighton led 25-17 at the end of the first quarter. DePaul actually matched Creighton in the second and third quarters, but Creighton kept the seven point lead heading into the fourth quarter. When DePaul inched back, Creighton quickly answered and spread the lead to end the game with a big 11 point upset.

DePaul led in points from turnovers (16-12), but Creighton swept the other categories. Creighton took points in the paint (38-28), second chance points (8-4), fast break points (12-6) and bench points (21-6).

The real story of the game was the shooting percentages. DePaul shot 38.2% from the field, 21.4% from three point land and 80% from the free throw line. Creighton shot an amazing 58.0%, 53.3% and 94.4% in those same categories.

Lexi Held and Sonya Morris lead DePaul with 17 points each, followed by Jorie Allen with 16. Dee Bekelja added 10, while Deja Church and Darrione Rogers each chipped in six points. Allen also had seven rebounds to lead the Blue Demons. Held continued her thievery, nabbing another seven steals.

Creighton scored 27 to lead the Blue Jays. Carly Bachelor's seven rebounds paced the team.

In the post-game presser, Coach Doug Bruno,  Allen and Held couldn't hide their disappointment with the game. All stated the loss wouldn't leave their minds quickly, but they would start focusing on their next game right away. Allen also talked about following her dad and uncle by playing at DePaul.

I asked Coach Bruno about the addition of WNBA star Jewell Lyod to his staff. The Chicago area native won a championship with the Seattle Storm last season and joined Bruno's staff on a limited basis. Technically, Loyd is listed as a Team Manager because of coaching limits, but she is essentially another assistant for Coach Bruno who is very familiar because of her Chicago roots. Having a local star with the resume of Loyd will definitely help the Blue Demons players now and potentially in their professional futures.

DePaul now stands at 13-4, 10-3 in Big East play. The Blue Demons return to action Wednesday, February 24 against Marquette at Wintrust Arena. DePaul's Big East rivals to the north are in second place at 15-4, 12-3. While neither team has a legitimate chance of catching first place Connecticut, this game could determine second place.

For more info on the team, go to DePaulBlueDemons.com. Also, check my recurring coverage here, on GlobalTravelerUSA.com, Patch.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com.

Friend Encounters: Don Muraco and Larry Freda

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

Larry Freda is another friend I have never met. Larry has met hundreds of others though. I always enjoy seeing Larry's social media posts showing the many interesting folks from wrestling and elsewhere.
Several years ago, Larry met The Rock, the original "Rock," aka Don Muraco. Long before Dwayne "The Rock" smelled what we were cooking, Don "The Rock" was carving out an excellent career in wrestling.
Muraco made his wrestling debut in 1970. He wrestled for the AWA and other territorial organizations, before joining the WWF in 1981. Muraco won the Intercontinental title twice, both times defeating Pedro Morales. During his time in the WWF, Muraco was first called "The Magnificent Muraco," but later became "The Rock" during a face run. 
He won the 1985 King of the Ring and was inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame in 2004. Muraco retired in 1995.
Larry met Muraco at the Legends of the Ring XIV. The LOR is a great place to meet legendary wrestlers. The next Legends of the Ring event is scheduled for October 3 at the APA Hotel in Woodbridge, NJ. The guest list is starting to grow and it includes Ricky Steamboat, Glenn "Kane" Jacobs and Layla.
For more info on this great fan fest, go to LegendsoftheRing.com. Also, check the Legends of the Ring Fanfest Facebook page for more frequent updates and news.

Larry Freda and Don Muraco in Monroe, NJ-June 2012.

On the Beat With WIU Softball Coach Alisa Goler

Last weekend, new Western Illinois University Coach Alisa Goler and her Leathernecks softball squad started the season with a 3-1 record in the DePaul Dome Tournament in Rosemont, Illinois. The weekend highlight was a stunning 8-7 victory over DePaul after trailing 7-1 heading into the seventh inning.

Goler was named Head Softball Coach in June 2020, after the 2020 season was stopped due to the pandemic. She is the fourth head coach in WIU history.

An outstanding player at the University of Georgia, Goler's name is all over the school's record books and leader boards. The three-time All-American set records for home runs (58), runs batted in (236), walks (184), slugging percentage (.686), sacrifice flies (tied at 12), multiple home run games (9) and grand slams (4). Her 184 walks set the SEC record, while ranking seventh nationally. Goler was also a four-time All-Southeast Region selection, a three-time All-SEC honoree, a 2009 USA Softball Collegiate Player of the Year finalist and a member of the 2009 Women's College World Series All-Tournament team.

A native of Frankfort, Illinois, Goler was drafted by her home area Chicago Bandits in the third round of the 2011 National Pro Fastpitch draft. She proceeded to be named the 2011 NPF Rookie of the Year, while clubbing a league-leading 11 home runs. Goler spent four seasons delighting Bandit Nation with her play, before departing for the Pennsylvania Rebellion. 

During her seven seasons in the NPF, Goler had already started her coaching journey. Goler began her coaching career as the hitting coach at Roosevelt University. A three year stint (2016-2018) followed at Syracuse as the recruiting coordinator and hitting and infield coach. After that, she was an assistant coach at Penn State. 

In naming Goler the head coach, WIU Director of Athletics Danielle Surprenant said, “Her passion for student-athlete success, both on and off the field, quickly became evident during the search process. Alisa is an accomplished player and coach, and I look forward to watching her lead the Leathernecks to the next level.”

For starters, that next level would be winning consistently. The Leathernecks have played around the .440 level over the last 16 seasons. Goler is bringing an impressive resume of winning and is expected to continue that trend with the Leathernecks.

Although last weekend started with a 3-1 loss to Valparaiso, the Leathernecks rebounded to beat Loyola-Chicago twice, 1-0 and 6-3, before entering Sunday's game against tournament host DePaul.

Sunday's game was scoreless through three innings. DePaul scored one in the fourth, which WIU answered in the top of the fifth. DePaul came right back and plated five in the bottom of the fifth and added one more in the sixth to make it 7-1 going into the last inning. Six WIU runs later and a scoreless bottom of the seventh brought the game into extra innings, where WIU scored one and held DePaul scoreless to steal the win.

It doesn't get much more exciting than that. I don't ever recall seeing that big of a comeback that late in a game. Making it even more impressive is it being only the fourth game of the season for WIU. Plus these athletes are so young. Of course, they have all probably played many years of ball, but to have the composure and maturity to battle back like that speaks volumes on the attitude of this team. That leads right back to Coach Goler.

I knew Goler from her days with the Chicago Bandits. Actually, she was one of my first interviews with the Bandits.

Earlier this week, seven years later, I had the opportunity to interview Goler again. Goler talked about thinking like a coach while playing pro ball, working with her pitching coach, taking over the WIU program, and much more, including the big weekend series.

I also had to ask Goler about her bobblehead. Much to my surprise and amusement, her bobblehead was actually on a shelf behind her. I gleefully told her I also own one, thanks to Bandit Nation's Kevin Mooney after I had searched for many years.

I thoroughly enjoyed this interview and hope to revisit Goler as the season develops. I'd like to get her thoughts on a few other softball topics, as well as progress reports on the Leathernecks. I also hope to see Goler and the Leathernecks on Saturday, May 8 when they come to Chicago for a doubleheader against DePaul, if fans or media are allowed at that time.

It really has been a pleasure seeing Goler's success over the years. WIU picked a winner and I have no doubt she will turn the Leathernecks into consistent winners.

The Leathernecks are scheduled to return to action on Friday, February 19 with a doubleheader against Bradley in Peoria, Illinois. I'll be following the Leathernecks and providing recurring coverage here all season .

Thank you to Coach Goler for her time and consideration. Thanks also to Graduate Assistant-Athletic Communications Keion Robinson for coordinating the interview

Go to GoLeathernecks.com for more info on Coach Goler and her team. Also, check here, Patch.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for my recurring coverage.

DePaul WBB Holds off Xavier for 4th Straight Win

In a game similar to Monday night's win, DePaul beat Xavier 83-75. Once again, the Blue Demons led most for the way, and held off a few late Xavier surges to secure another win.

DePaul and Xavier battled in the first quarter with the Blue Demons having a slight edge at 19-17. A big second quarter saw DePaul gain a 36-27 halftime lead, a lead DePaul held through the end. Xavier got the edge 48-47 in the second half, but it wasn't enough to catch DePaul. Overall, DePaul led for 33:47 to Xavier's 4:08, although the game often seemed closer than that.

DePaul held the advantage in points from turnovers (25-9), second chance points (17-15) and fast break points (17-8). Xavier topped DePaul in points in the paint (40-34) and bench points (19-5). DePaul losing the bench points battle isn;t new to the team, as Coach Doug Bruno is relying mostly on his starters.

DePaul shot 38.3% from the field, 26.7% from three point land and 72.2% from the free throw line. Xavier shot 45.8%, 37.5% and 83.3% respectively.

Lexi Held topped the scoring sheet with 25 points. She also added six assists, five steals, two blocks and four rebounds in a well-rounded effort. Sonya Morris added 22 points and seven assists. Other Blue Demons in the scoing column were Dee Bekelja (20), Darrione Rogers (6), Jorie Allen (5), Hannah Purcell (3) and Kiara Dallmann (2).

Kaelynn Satterfield paced Xavier with 16 points. Three Musketeers, A'riana Gray, Aaliyah Dunham and Satterfield tied for the team rebound lead with seven.

As Coach Bruno discussed in the post-game presser, the great unknown was how Xavier would play after being off since January 23 due to COVID-19-related issues within its program. The ever-practical Bruno added that it's actually like that layoff or not. Any game can go any way. Still, the quick DePaul tempo could not have been a great welcome back to Xavier, but they held tough and forced DePaul to play hard the full 40 minutes.

One big highlight yesterday was Morris joining the 1,000 point club. Chjurch and Held reached that milestone earlier this season. In the post-game session, Morris and Held talked about their achievements, with both revealing they weren't aware of it as it was happening. Now they are quite aware of it as DePaul staffers and media members all congratulated them.

The Blue Demons now stand at 13-4. Those losses were against No. 1/1 Connecticut twice, No. 3/2 Louisville and No. 5/5 Texas A&M. DePaul returns to action on Saturday at Wintrust against Creighton in a game that will be televised nationally on FS1.

For more info on DePaul, go to DePaulBlueDemons.com. Also, check my recurring coverage here and at GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com, Patch.com and GlobalTravelerUSA.com.

Happy Birthday Sam

Today, I celebrate the birthday of my niece Sam. I'm sure she is celebrating with husband Kyle and their three furry ones (Tris, Tux and Tim), but I am saluting her from across the country.

I love the picture below. It is pure Sam! While we all would love to have them back in Illinois, I am so happy for her. They wanted to move to Colorado and they did. They love it out there.

I am so proud of her. To me, that was a very courageous thing to do. Moving across the country, away from your family, friends and life is a gutsy decision. It is more than I could have done. They are living life and loving it. We don't see them as often, but it's comforting to know they are doing so well.

Sam has also courageously worked in the health care field throughout the pandemic. I thank her for being a frontline worker.

I am sure Kyle and the puppos will treat you right today, but also know your old uncle is sending you lots of love and cheers. You absolutely rock, Sam! Don't ever change.

Sam Kolb in CO-Summer 2020.

Welcome Back DePaul Softball

The DePaul Blue Demons softball team was finally back in action. Opening their 2021 season inside the warm confines of the Dome in Rosemont, the Blue Demons started with a big win. The Blue Demons went 3-2 over the weekend but unfortunately ended it with a tough loss.

The weekend started with a big 8-0 victory over Valparaiso. Unfortunately, it ended with an 8-7 loss to Western Illinois, in a game that saw DePaul squander a 7-1 lead. In between, the Blue Demons went 2-1 to make it 3-2 for the weekend series.

There were some nice highlights, including Natalie Halvorson's brilliant pitching performance and some explosive hitting. Some negatives were blowing the lead, occasional shaky defense and spotty pitching. All told though, the good outweighed the bad and things look very positive for the Blue Demons.

DePaul is off until the Coach B Classic on Feb. 26-28 in Carbondale, Illinois. They open their home season on March 20. I'll be covering the team here, on GlobalSportsRadio.com, Patch.com and GlobalTravelerUSA.com.

Fans were not allowed in the Dome over the weekend. Nothing has been announced about fans at DePaul's Cacciatore Stadium. Even if I am not in the stands, I am still happy to have softball back.

Coach Tracie Adix-Zins and me in Rosemont, IL-May 2019

DePaul WBB Goes to 12-4 in Play4Kay Game

With the Chicago temperature getting colder and the snow piling up, it took DePaul a little while to warm up and start piling up the points. A hot third quarter propelled the Blue Demons to an 82-76 victory over BIG EAST rival Seton Hall.

Seton Hall led 17-13 after the first quarter, but DePaul tied it at 31 at halftime. DePaul came out strong in the third quarter to lead 61-51 at the end of three. Despite a Seton Hall fourth quarter surge, DePaul was able to hang on to grab the win. Overall, DePaul held the lead for 28:09 compared to Seton Hall's 9:56.

Both teams were cold from three-point land, with DePaul hitting 2-13 and Seton Hall 1-12. Things improved for both in the second half, as DePaul went 6-14 and Seton Hall went 4-14 from beyond the arc. DePaul finished shooting 29,6%, while Seton Hall ended at 19.2% from three-point land.

DePaul shot 39.2% from the field and 84.2% on free throws, while Seton Hall shot 49.5% and 43.8% respectively. Seton Hall's poor shooting really was the difference in the six point victory for the Blue Demons.

Seton Hall held the advantage in points from turnovers (15-10), points in the paint (48-28), second chance points (15-10) and points from the bench (11-6). DePaul only led in fast break points (23-19).

DePaul's Dee Bekelja had a double-double, with 22 points and 10 rebounds, both leading the team. Other DePaul scorers included Sonya Morris (20), Lexi Held (17), Jorie Allen (10), Deja Church (7) and Darrione Rogers (6). 

Lauren Park-Lane paced Seton Hall with 24 points. Andra Espinoza-Hunter led the irates with 15 rebounds.

Held scored her 1,000th point for the Blue Demons. She also hit two clutch free throws with seconds remaining to ice the win.

“Double-Double Dee” Bekelja notched her second double-double of the season. It was also the third one of her career.

No. 19/22 DePaul improved to 12-4, 9-2 in the BIG EAST while the Pirates dropped to 9-6, 7-5. The Blue Demons return to action Wednesday night against Xavier at Wintrust Arena in Chicago.

One final important note about Monday's game was the focus on raising awareness  and funding to combat breast cancer by prominently featuring pink. The Play4Kay game honors the legendary former North Carolina State coach Kay Pow, who courageously fought cancer for 22 years before passing in 2009.

DePaul coach Doug Bruno talked about Coach Kay in the post-game press session. His respect for Coach Kay was obvious as he got emotional just speaking about the iconic coach.

Also in the presser, Bekelja discussed her big night and her new nickname. She also stated she probably would be celebrating the win with a pizza while the team stays at a hotel near Wintrust through Wednesday's game. Bekelja also discussed learning and growing from the experience of holding off the Seton Hall surge at the end of the game.

Held was next up in the presser. She talked about reaching the 1,000 point milestone. Held also discussed the pressure and satisfaction of nailing the two clutch free throws.

Go to DePaulBlueDemons.com for more info on Coach Bruno's squad. Also, check here, GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com, Patch.com and GlobalTravelerUSA.com for my recurring coverage.

Happy Birthday Louie

Today I celebrate the birthday of one of my oldest friends. Louie and I go back to September 1987, when I took his work chair (unbeknownst to me). Fortunately, we moved past that faux pas.

We've worked together ever since then, first for Lerner and then on our own for the last last 17 years. There's nobody better to be my business partner than Louie.

Of course, the bond goes beyond work. At a time when I was at a low point, Louie put me on his softball team, when I had no business playing with those guys. I'll forever be grateful though. I must admit, I did eventually become a decent part of the team. Still, Louie didn;t have to do it and I am not sure how it went over with the rest of the team at first, but it gave me a lot of fun at a time when I really needed it.

That is just one of our many bonding experiences. We signed on with Global Traveler to handle nationwide distribution when we had no idea how we would do it, but we did it. That was always Louie's motto. Grab it first and we'll figure it out. I was always the more tentative one. I guess together it was a good balance, because 33 years later, we are still friends and solid business partners.

Happy birthday Louie. Yes, you're still younger than me, but percentage-wise you are catching up.

Louie and the Boys of Summer in Denver, CO-Summer 2018.

Friend Encounters: Dana DeLorenzo and Tony Feddeler

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

As far as Friend Encounters celebs and friends, it's hard to beat the combo today. Tony Feddeler is a great friend and Dana DeLorenzo is one of my favorite celebs.

I have featured Tony here many times. Like me, he is a celeb hound. He has met athletes, wrestlers, entertainers and other stars of all sorts. We occasionally team up for celeb encounters. I would be terribly envious of Tony meeting Dana, except I had already met her a few times.

Dana had done it all. A DePaul graduate (why couldn't she be there when I went?), Dana appeared in musicals and on stage throughout the Chicago area. She was also in House of Winehouse, an Amy Winehouse tribute band. They were voted Best Tribute Band by The Chicago Reader in 2010.

Dana's big break was playing Kelly Maxwell on Ash Vs. Evil Dead on Starz. She was the foul-mouthed quick-witted bad ass female sidekick to Bruce Campbell's main character.

I'm not calling Dana foul-mouthed, but that character seems like a natural for Dana and I love her for it. We've had a lot of fun at comic cons over the years. I occasionally like asking for odd pictures, but Dana actually initiated "fun" pictures with me at a convention a few years ago. Of course, I was up for anything, especially with Dana.

Beauty, brains, humor, Dana has it all. Tony might argue that description applies to him, too, but I'll leave that to his wife to decide, although I do think he is funny. Any way, Tony and I totally agree we love Dana!

Follow Dana at @IAmDanaDeLorenzo on twitter for updates, news and fun. Tony doesn't have a twitter account (but he should), but you can keep up with his celeb encounters here on occasion.

Tony Feddeler and Dana DeLorenzo in Schaumburg, IL-November 2018.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #521 Nattie Neidhart & Richard Christy

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards fo celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Before moving from our football theme, today I celebrate the Super Bowl teams.

Natalya Neidhart was born into the legendary Hart wrestling family in Calgary, Alberta, Canada. The daughter of Jim "The Anvil" Neidhart and Bret's sister Ellie, Nattie is carving her own legacy in the WWE. Already a multi-time champ, Nattie might be too good for her own good. She is often used to make others look better. Residing in Tampa now, Nattie is a big fan of the Buccaneers. Nattie flexed her muscles on the field top earn her Celebrity Jersey Card. The champ loves the champs!

Richard Christy grew up in Kansas, becoming one of the world's greatest drummers. He won a contest to earn a job on The Howard Stern Show and has been creating silliness ever since. He doesn't stray from his Kansas roots though. The Chiefs are still his "favorite" team. Christy is wearing Travis Kelce's #87, because he's his favorite. I bent the rule of only one Celebrity Jersey Card per celebrity/team.

On the Beat With Kia Nurse of the Phoenix Mercury

The Phoenix Mercury held a press conference introducing newly acquired Kia Nurse. Yesterday, the Mercury sent its 2021 first-round pick (sixth overall) and 2022 first-round pick to the New York Liberty for Nurse and Megan Walker.

After an outstanding career at the University of Connecticut, Nurse was selected by the New York Liberty with the tenth pick in the first round of the 2018 WNBA draft. She has played 89 games, starting 59 over her three seasons. She has averaged 11.6 points, 2.6 rebounds, 2.0 assists, and 0.7 steals per game. She has shot 36.1% from the field, 30.2% from three-point land, and 86.9% from the free-throw line. She was named to the All-Star team in 2019.

Entering her fourth year in the WNBA,  Nurse is one of only eight WNBA players who has made 30 or more three-point shots in each of the last three seasons. Also, Nurse and Cynthia Cooper are the only players in the history of the league to make at least 30 three-point shots in each of her first three seasons while shooting 85 percent or better from the three-throw line. 

Nurse comes from an athletic family. Her father Richard played in the Canadian Football League and her mother Cathy was a basketball player at McMaster University. Her brother Darnell plays hockey for the Edmonton Oilers and her sister Tamika played college basketball. Her cousin Sarah played hockey for the University of Wisconsin and also Team Canada in the 2018 Olympics. Her uncle through marriage is former NFL quarterback Donovan McNabb.

In the press session, Nurse talked about hearing some rumblings about the trade and having a bit of an idea something was happening. She said being in a sports family taught her a lot and prepared her for movement in sports. She was very positive about the Mercury, while also speaking of all the great moments and memories with the Liberty. She talked about looking forward to meeting and playing with her new teammates but also missing her old Liberty mates.

Nurse was extremely poised and upbeat in the press session. Clearly, she is a mature person on and off the court. She knows this is part of the game and she is simply going to make the most of her new opportunity.

For more info on Nurse, the Mercury and the WNBA, go to WNBA.com. For more coverage of the WNBA, go to GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com.

Happy Birthday JayHawk!

Today, I celebrate the birthday of the Man Formerly Known as the Angry Young Man (TMFKATAYM). Jason is not so young anymore, nor is he really the angry one (much) these days.

I have admitted being guilty of freezing Jason as the youngster who joined Lerner back in 1995. We've all come a long way since then and perhaps nobody more than Jason.

Jason is a happily married suburbanite father of two. It all suits him well, too. I have never seen him calmer or happier. I seriously couldn't be happier for him.

While I wish him nothing but happiness, I do admit I am hoping Cassie and Luke give him a challenge on occasion. I still have the memories of yelling "tact" every time Jason was about to talk to anyone in the office. Looking at their impish faces and knowing it probably runs in the family, I have no doubt they will cause him a gray hair or two.

The pandemic has kept us all apart for far too long, but hopefully soon we will get together and celebrate everything. For today though, I raise my Coke can to the west and I wish my dear friend a happy birthday!

Luke, Jason and Cassie in Streamwood, IL-August 2020.

On the Beat With Evan Toth

While in New York several years ago, I did a self-guided mini-tour of a few Billy Joel-related locations. Last week on Facebook, I saw a picture of someone sitting on the iconic steps from Joel's Innocent Man album, just like I did.

The picture was similar, but that's where the comparison ends. I am simply a Joel fan, while the man in the picture is Evan Toth, a talented musician working on an album with several members from Joel's classic band. I immediately reached out to him.

Toth has been writing and performing for more than 20 years. When not performing, When not performing, Toth works in special education and hosts The Evan Toth Show on WFDU, 89.1 FM in the New York City area. He also hosts a podcast called Radar through The Vinyl District website which features interviews with musical personalities such as Joan Baez and Richie Havens. He also released two albums, Welcome Back to Hell (2007) and Everything is Fine (2016).

Currently, Toth is working on The Show, an album with Joel's classic lineup featuring Liberty Devitto, Richie Cannata and Russell Javors, with Malcolm Gold on bass, all of whom perform with The Lords of 52nd Street. It has all original music written by Toth. Of course, The Show was mostly recorded at Cannata's Cove City Sound Studios.

Toth gave me a preview of the album and I was hooked right from the first song, also titled "The Show." Joel's influence is evident, from Devitto's signature drumming to Cannata's amazing sax and the steady rhythm provided by Javors. Also, Gold using the late Doug Stegmeyer's bass was a cool touch. Toth's wife Laura joins him for one song and supplies backup on others.

I mentioned to Toth how my favorite song on the album happens to be "The Show." I didn't want him to think I only listened to that first song. In fact, I liked all 10 of the songs on the album. In the last few days, I have listened to the album several times. The various songs are taking turns getting stuck in my head.

Our conversation veered from Joel for a bit when talking travel. For wish list destinations, Toth started with Japan, where he previously spent time performing in Tony 'n' Tina's Wedding. He also mentioned the Bari region of Italy, where his wife has family. Last, he added Hungary and that eastern European area for his roots. When I asked his dream venue, he mentioned Red Rocks, Royal Albert Hall, Lincoln Center and Madison Square Garden before picking the classic Carnegie Hall. 

It's no secret I am a huge fan of Joel, but I am also a fan of other great music. Toth's The Show is the intersection of both. You won't have to be a fan of Joel to enjoy this album.

For more information, go to EvanToth.com. Also, follow Toth on social media for more frequent updates and other fun. 

Bret Hart

Bret Hart was one of the first wrestlers whose career I watched pretty much from the start. Technically, he started wrestling in 1978, but that was in Stampede Wrestling, the federation his father ran in Calgary. Back then, there was no way to watch smaller feds. I remeber him from his WWF debut in '84 as a cowboy.

Bret quickly became a tag team star with his brother-in-law Jim Neidhart. The Hart Foundation went on to win the WWF tag titles twice and were a popular team for many years. Bret eventually went on to a singles career, winning the WWF title five times and the Intercontinental title twice. Bret was inducted into the WWE HOF in 2006 as a solo performer, then again in 2019 as part of the Hart Foundation.

Clearly Bret is one of the greatest of all time. It's unfortunate that his career is also dotted with controversies and tragedy. The Montreal Screwjob will forever be a source of debate. His WCW tenure was disappointing. His occasional bitterness overshadows his greatness at times. Nothing is worse than the death of his brother Owen.

I cannot possibly know what is in Bret's mind. He has had more than his share of problems. How does one react to all of that? 

Bret wrote a very detailed autobiography a few years back. I thoroughly enjoyed it. I must admit sometimes Bret seems to think the wrestling world is real. That's a small criticism for an otherwise fascinating look at the life of Bret.

I have met Bret several times and have heard him in Q&As and panels. The man knows wrestling. He has his detractors and they have some legitimate complaints, but I'll take Bret over many of the other wrestling legends. Bret might take it all too seriously, but he cares deeply for the sport. I'll take his passion over the egos of others every day.

Bret Hart, Jason Fleigel and me in Schaumburg-November 2015.

Kristyn Sandberg and More at GearSay

If I asked Kristyn Sandberg for advice after I took batting practice with her, she probably would have said I should stick to writing. I will take that imagined advice and write about Sandberg...and the advice she gives through GearSay.

Sandberg is just one of the many athletes on GearSay available to give advice to athletes of all ages and levels. In my main area of interest of softball, Sandberg is joined by other star players, including Megan Wiggins, Emily Crane, Danielle Lawrie, Erika Piancastelli, and Mandie Perez, all of whom have experienced major success in college, pro leagues, and internationally.

GearSay is much more than athletes giving personal advice, however (although there are plenty of athletes on GearSay). GearSay is the ultimate destination for athletes of all ages and levels to find resources to improve their skills and health.

GearSay was founded by Jeff Stein. When training for a triathlon, Stein sought every avenue to help his preparation. While he did the best he could and all worked out, the lack of a centralized resource center was frustrating. Thus the idea of GearSay emerged.

Stein developed GearSay as a source of personalized advice from pro athletes, fitness and training apps, products, videos, articles, and more. Originally GearSay was a side project, but it has grown into a thriving business.

Stein told me, “Our focus is on making it easier for people who love fitness and recreation to discover and connect with trusted resources to get better and to lead healthy lives.  We're building GearSay around the inherent trustworthiness of elite athletes because elite athletes make daily decisions for themselves that are important to performance and healthy lifestyles. We want users to be able to learn FROM elite athletes, rather than just about them.”

In addition to the limitless virtual library of information, GearSay allows you to send videos of yourself in action to the athletes for their advice for a nominal fee. While the athletes have different prices, they are all very reasonable considering what you get. Other sites charge much more for athletes to merely give a greeting. The video advice GearSay athletes give is much more impactful than a 15-second shout out.

Already boasting a roster of more than 70 athletes, GearSay continues to grow with more athletes joining every week. Softball brought me to GearSay, but virtually every sport is represented, including swimming, MMA, lacrosse, bowling, and too many more to list. If a sport doesn't have an athlete available for advice, there are plenty of other resources available. While I listed the women softball players, GearSay has plenty of men athletes and is aimed at all athletes in all sports.

There are literally thousands of articles and videos on the site. Just for fun and research purposes, I looked for something very specific about bocce, another of my passions. I found more than a dozen articles on that one aspect of bocce.

I asked Stein for future GearSay plans, other than expanding the already extensive resource center. “As you can see from the site, we've built an advice platform, which gives our users a way to get video feedback on questions of form, performance, or anything else, and we'll continue to make that platform more robust in the way that users can interact with the elite athletes.  We are also building out the elite athlete lockers, which are individual content platforms for elite athletes to showcase their original content (e.g., training videos, product reviews) as well as their favorite products.  We'll be adding a shopping section soon that makes it easy for our users to see what elite athletes use what products and to buy them.”

Having covered women's softball for many years, I have seen the six softball players on GearSay many times. I know how much they give back to the sport in an effort to continue growing softball. I have seen them give advice to so many youngsters at the ballpark. That's all great, but it is limited. GearSay eliminates any limitations by making the athletes available to everyone.

While the six softball players and the other athletes on GearSay are some of the greatest, there is always room for more. On that topic, Stein stated, “We would welcome any of your readers who are elite athletes to join us on the platform as we are continuously growing our athlete roster. As state and NCAA rules allow college athletes to monetize their profiles, we'll be bringing on college athletes as well.”

The future of GearSay is as limitless as its resource virtual catalog. I only wish GearSay was around 35 years ago when I embarked on my rec league softball career. Even now, I am quite sure Sandberg, Wiggins, Perez, Piancastelli, Lawrie, or Crane could help me work out a few kinks from my swing. I might be sending them videos come springtime.

For more info, check out GearSay.com. Also, follow Sandberg and the rest of the elite athletes on their social media pages.

Kristyen Sandberg and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2019.

Friend Encounters: George Wendt and Michael West

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

Michael West is an author I first met years ago. Based in Indiana, West has written many books and short stories in the horror field. His twisted tales don't seem like they could ever come from such a pleasant fellow, but they do. Michael is a great guy and a very talented writer.

A few years back, Michael "had beers with" George Wendt. I found this funny, because Michael always struck me as similar to Wendt's Cheers character Norm in his friendliness. I picture Michael walking into a convention and everyone yelling "Michael."

Michael is a dual threat at cons. He attends them as fans and as a creative guest. Either way, he is busy, but always makes time for his fans and friends, even pesky writers like me.

Go to ByMichaelWest.com to learn more about his writing. If you ever see Michael, be sure to shout his name gleefully.

Michael West and George Wendt in Sharonville, OH-March 2015.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #520 Kurt Angle & Marty Jannetty

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards of celebrities wearing sports jerseys. With Super Bowl LV today, I am featuring the two worst teams in the NFL.

Pennsylvania born Kurt Angle is an American Olympic Gold Medalist and he accomplished that feat "with a broken freaking neck,: to borrow a bit from his professional wrestling schtick. Angle went on to have a Hall of Fame pro career, winning many titles along the way. He also ventured into an acting career. Angle wore a Jacksonville jaguars jersey to rile a crowd in his heel days and earned a Celebrity Jersey Card in doing so.

Marty Jannetty was born near Atlanta, Georgia and rose to fame as part of the Rockers tag team, along with Shawn Michaels. Eventually the team split with Michaels becoming a Hall of Famer and Jannetty never really matching the success he had in the Rockers. Jannetty actually became the standard in tag team breakups. Nobody wanted to be the Jannetty. In all fairness, Jannetty has had a lengthy career, although he battled his own issues along the way. Jannetty showed his hometown pride by wearing an Atlanta Falcons jersey on a interview show to earn his Celebrity Jersey Card. Julio Jones is easily the best to wear #11 for the Falcons, besting others including Kim McQuilken, Billy Joe Tolliver and Randy Johnson. You might say Jones is the Michaels of that group.

Cards That Never Were: Bob Lee 1979 Topps

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players missed in various sets. It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many to list, but I appreciate all of their efforts. Other creations of mine and many others can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards Facebook group (which is not just baseball cards, despite the name).
I previously made some Cards That Never Were for former QB Bob Lee at Bear Down Sunday/ Cards That Never Were: Bob Lee.
To recap, Lee had football cards in the Topps sets of 1972, 1974 and 1975.  As usual, I set out to fill in some of the gaps. I could not find any pictures of Lee from the 1969 season.  Wanting to be accurate, I could not use a newer picture for this card.  Therefore, I could not create one for the 1970 series. I also was missing enough pics of Lee with the Vikings or any pics of him with the Rams to complete his cards.
Recently, I found another picture I could use to give Lee a 1979 Topps card. It's always nice to fill another gap. Now, 1969, '80 and '81 remain white whales.

On the Beat With Candace Parker of the Chicago Sky

Chicago area legend and two-time WNBA MVP Candace Parker signed with the Chicago Sky. This is the biggest free agent signing ever for the Sky and one of the biggest in Chicago sports history.

How big is it? Chicago Mayor Lori Lightfoot led off the “Welcome Home” press conference. I cannot recall a Chicago mayor ever joining the celebration of a sports player acquisition. 

Sky co-owners Michael Alter and John Rogers proudly and excitedly followed Mayor Lightfoot. They talked about bringing home one of Chicago's finest.

Next up was GM-Head Coach James Wade, who said “It’s indescribable to put into words what this moment means to our organization and to the city of Chicago. It’s an incredible story of a homecoming between a team striving to become a championship organization and one of the best players in basketball. Candace is someone who has meant so much to the game – and not just in L.A. or Chicago – her stature is truly unmatched. It says a lot about the strides we’ve made in the right direction and we believe Candace is the one who is going to take us to that next level.”

Finally Parker took center stage and wowed everyone with her eloquence, charm and enthusiasm. Parker talked of the decision as joining the Sky, not leaving the Sparks. She has no animosity towards her former organization. She simply added a new WNBA home. It was a decision based on coming home. She had not considered any other WNBA teams.

Parker was born in St. Louis, Missouri, but her family moved to Naperville, Illinois when she was two. She was a star basketball player at Naperville Central High School, before going on to more success at the University of Tennessee. After red-shirting her first year, Parker played 110 games over the next four seasons, averaging 19.4 points per game. The Sparks selected her with the first pick in the 2008 WNBA draft.

In 13 seasons with the Sparks, Parker has played 337 games (starting 333), while averaging 16.9 points, 3.9 assists, 8.6 rebounds, 1.3 steals and 1.6 blocks per game. She shot 48.2% from the field, 33.7% from three point land and 76.1% from the free throw line.

Along the way, she picked up several awards and achievements., including but not limited to the following:

WNBA Champion: 2016

WNBA Finals MVP: 2016

2× WNBA Most Valuable Player: 2008, 2013

5× All-WNBA First Team (2008, 2012–2014, 2017)

2× All-WNBA Second Team (2009, 2015)

2× WNBA All-Defensive Second Team (2009, 2012)

3× WNBA rebounding leader (2008, 2009, 2020)

2× WNBA peak performer (2008, 2009)

WNBA Defensive Player of the Year (2020)

WNBA All-Star Game MVP (2013)

WNBA Rookie of the Year (2008)

Turning 35 in April, Parker knows the bulk of her career is behind her, but she feels she has plenty left in the tank. She talked about other athletes keeping up high levels of performance at older ages, such as Tampa Bay quarterback Tom Brady playing in his 10th Super Bowl at the age of 43.

The whole press session simply felt warm and fuzzy. Obviously Parker wants to finish her career in her home city, surrounded by family and friends. She also wants to get back to great Chicago food, specifically mentioning Lou Malnati's, Portillo's and Giordano's. This brought one of the many laughs of the press conference.

Parker summed it up by saying, “Chicago is where my family raised me; where I first learned the game of basketball; and where I first fell in love with this orange ball. I am excited to continue the next chapter of my career where it all began. To my new teammates, my new organization, and my new fans: I’m home.”

Chicagoans are just as excited as Parker. Suddenly the Sky are the talk of the town. Parker Sky jerseys are being ordered. Sky tickets are being purchased. All as good in Skyland, because Parker has come home!

Check GlobalTravelerUSA.com, Patch.com, GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for more of my WNBA coverage. Also, go to WNBA.com for more info on all teams and players.

On the Beat With Bill Laimbeer, Chelsea Gray and Dan Padover of the Las Vegas Aces

The Las Vegas Aces announced the signing of three-time WNBA All-Star and free agent guard Chelsea Gray. In a press session Tuesday, GM Dan Padover, Coach Bill Laimbeer and Gray talked about the path to the contract.

Coach Laimbeer spoke of Gray and the signing, “Chelsea is an elite level playmaker in the WNBA, and players like her don’t come available very often. She’s also a quality person and teammate with valuable postseason and championship experience. Adding someone to our roster with her ability to consistently make the big play brings us that much closer to a championship.”

Gray was drafted in the 1st round with the 11th pick by the Connecticut Sun in the 2014 WNBA draft. She missed the 2014 season due to injury, but played one season for the Sun, before being traded to the Los Angeles Sparks. She played five seasons with the Sparks through the 2020 season.

During her career, Gray played 191 games (starting 125), averaging 11.7 points, 3.o rebounds, 4.2 assists and 1.0 steals per game. She has shot 45.6% from the field, 38,5% from three point land and 85.1% from the free throw line.

For her opening statement, Gray said, “I’m excited to start a new chapter in my career with the Las Vegas Aces,” said Gray. “They already have a talented roster, made up of great competitors, and I can’t wait to get out on the floor with them. We play this game to win, and our goal from day one is to bring a WNBA championship to the city of Las Vegas.”

In the press session, Coach Laimbeer talked about finding the perfect balance between the best player and the best fit when looking at free agents. He feels Gray is tops in both categories. He talked about the process of pursuing Gray, her fitting into the team mindset and the chase for the title. Gray discussed possible pressure in being the free agent brought onto a successful team close to a championship, along with her love of Las Vegas and her new teammates.

Last season, the Aces finished 18-4, tied for first place with the Seattle Storm. The two teams eventually met in the championship series, with the Storm prevailing. Padover, Laimbeer and Gray are hoping that Gray's addition is the key piece to put the Aces on top.

Check my other coverage on GlobalTravelerUSA.com, Patch.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com. Also, check WNBA.com for more info on all of the teams and players.

On the Beat With Diana Taurasi of the WNBA Phoenix Mercury

The Phoenix Mercury announced Diana Taurasi signed a multi-year extension. The contract should assure that nine-time WNBA All-Star, two-time WNBA Finals MVP, 2009 WNBA MVP and the three-time WNBA Champion Diana Taurasi will remain with the Merrcury for the duration of her career.

Mercury General Manager Jim Pitman spoke about Taurasi, ““WNBA players are more empowered and in control of their careers than ever before, and it is an incredibly important statement that Diana Taurasi has chosen to re-sign with the Mercury once again. Diana has given her entire career to our organization and community, and we don’t take for granted her unrivaled impact on basketball in the Valley. Her commitment to getting back on the court last year, and the level of play we saw from her in the Wubble, make us confident she has more All-WNBA days ahead of her.”

After missing most of the 2019 season with a back surgery, Taurasi returned last season to lead the Mercury in scoring with an 18.7 points per game average, good for fifth highest in the WNBA. She also averages 4.5 assists per game, the eighth most in the league. Taurasi led the Mercury to the fifth best record in the WNBA, despite scuffling through the season with a roster depleted by injuries.

For her career, in 17 seasons with the Mercury, Taurasi has played (and started) 456 games, averaging 19.6 points, 4.3 assists, 4.0 rebounds 1.0 steals and 0.7 blocks per game. She also averaged an incredible 31.0 minutes per game. Even last season, at 38 and coming off the injury, Taurasi averaged 28.1 minutes per game. In her career, she has a 43.2% shooting percentage from the field, 36.7 from three point land and 87.1% from the free throw line. 

The Mercury finished 13-9 last season, good for fifth place in the Western Conference. With the reshuffling of teams in the playoffs, the Mercury were the #5 seed.

In the press session, Taurasi talked about playing as she gets older, her legacy, the importance of playing her whole career with the Mercury and more. 

Taurasi was poised, relaxed and focused. Despite it being the offseason, Taurasi looks ready to play today. With her contract done, she can now focus on the task at hand, winning another WNBA title. Check my other coverage on GlobalTravelerUSA.com, Patch.com and GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com. Also, check WNBA.com for more info on all of the teams and players.

Mitch Trubisky Past and Future

I first met and talkked to Mitch Trubisky at the Chicago Auto Show a couple years ago. I was covering another exhibition there and was late in getting to Mitch's booth. I appealed to the staffers, who then asked Trubisky. He could have easily stuck to the time deadlines and sent me on my way, but instead, he waved me over. Because I was already late, I kept things short, just basically getting a quote on the show and the Bears.

Trubisky was very gracious and very humble. I told him he was our best hope at quarterback in a long time. He brushed it off,m but thanked me for the compliment. Fans loved him that day.

Unfortunately, things haven;t worked out for him in Chicago. I blame the coaches and organization for the most part. He's already had two head coaches and multiple QB coaches. The coaches never tailored the offense to Trubisky's strength.

Obviously, Trubisky underperformed at times, but he also showed flashes of excellence. It is up to the coaxching to bring out more excellence and to minimize bad performances. The coaching failed Trubisky and failed the fans.

Trubisky will probably leave Chicago now. He will probably end up as a starter elsewhere and go on to a decent NFL career. With the right coaching and a few breaks, he might end up being very good. Only time will tell.

Good luck to Trubisky wherever he lands. I will always be grateful for his time and consideration at the Chicago Auto Show.

Mitch Trubisky and me in Chicago, IL-February 2019.

Friend Encounters: Dominique Collins and Henry Gee

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

I never pass a chance to write about Dominique Collins, former star defensive back with the LFL Chicago Bliss. It's unfortunate that this picture is mucked up by Henry, but for the sake of featuring DC, I'll accept that.

Actually, Henry and I crossed paths a few times while we were covering the LFL and the Bliss for different media outlets. Little did we know that years later, I would be writing for Global Women's Sports Radio, which is run by Henry.

DC was my first game day interview with the Bliss. It was happenstance as I asked the Bliss PR guy for anyone and he brought out DC. We've all come a long way since then.

DC went on to win four titles with the Bliss, while becoming a real star in the league. I saw her work so hard and develop into a great player. I also became friends with her and saw what a wonderful person she is.

Hnry has gone on to launch GWSR and also works hard at making it a success. I've been writing for GWSR for almost a year now and it has been a fun ride covering women's sports including softball, wrestling, basketball and more.

Go to GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com to check out my work and all the other great women's sports coverage. Also, check GWSR on Facebook for more frequent updates, polls, pictures and more. 

Dominique Collins and Henry Gee in Scottsdale, AZ-August 2016.