Loni Anderson at Wizard World Chicago 2017

Wizard World returns to Chicago October 15-17. Of course, I'll be "On the Beat"meeting and interviewing celebrities and creators.

One of the cool parts of Wizard World is when they bring in sitcom stars of years ago. One such star was Loni Anderson. I didn't get to interview her officially, but we spent a solid time talking to her informally.

Loni rose to fame on television's WKRP in Cincinnati. She is the perfect type of guest I love seeing at comic cons. Television stars from the '70s is my sweet spot.

On WKRP, Anderson starred as Jennifer, one of the many great characters on that ensemble show. Anderson stayed busy since then, but never quite reached that level of success. That's not a knock at all. Any actor would love to have as much success as Anderson.

When I met her at Wizard World, I talked to her a bit about that iconic role and she responded positively about the experience. She embraces the role and all that comes with it. Most fans discuss WKRP with her when they meet her, but it is also a role which allowed her to be in this position. We also talked a bit about her work to help the battle with Multiple Sclerosis. Anderson's daughter was diagnosed with MS in 2009 and she has worked hard to raise money and awareness for the cause.

Anderson still looked great, despite being in her 70s. Even better though, she was very kind and fan-friendly throughout the convention. After our interaction, she waved at me every time I walked by her booth.

Check out WizardWorld.com for more info and scheduling. Also, check back here for my recurring coverage.

Loni Anderson and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

On the Beat With Cat Osterman (and Thank you Cat!)

Cat Osterman has pitched her last professional game. Last season's Athletes Unlimited Softball champ, who made the announcement a while back, finished her career Monday, exiting to a thunderous response from the appreciative fans.

Yesterday, Cat went to social media to bid farewell. 

Dear Softball,

It’s time this intimate relationship we’ve had ends. It’s not you… it’s me. You’ve had my heart for 28 years, and now I need it back, to invest it elsewhere. New experiences, my family, and cheering on everyone else who loves you. Let’s be real, this hasn’t a monogamous relationship! I share you with millions of others! 

You’ve given me a second & third chance. You accepted and understood my change of heart and mind, while granting me so many amazing moments. And more importantly, you gave me so many amazing people.

This last chapter taught me what pure joy was. You allowed me to grow in so many ways with incredible woman. You granted me things I didn’t even know I needed. You helped me show a young girl what hard work, dedication and love can add up to, and for all this I’m indebted to you.

You let me go out on a high, surrounded by so many I cherish and I’m grateful. It was perfect. But still, I need to move on.

Our tango on the field has ended, but I won’t be too far away. I’ll share all you’ve taught me with anyone and everyone. I’ll help others love you the way I have, and I’ll be cheering loudly as you grow and give my peers continuous challenges and successes. 

For the last time as an athlete, I say Goodbye to you.

- #38 formerly #8

Ever the class act, Cat ends her career by giving back a little more to her fans.

Others can write about all of Cat's accomplishments throughout her career. Cat's achievements can fill pages. I'm going to relay some personal reflections on Cat.

As a fan of women's sports, particularly softball, I followed Cat's career from her time at the University of Texas. When I started covering the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits, I conducted individual interviews with the Bandits. When the USSSA Pride came to Rosemont, I requested an interview with Cat. I didn't figure I would get one, but Cat graciously gave me her time. As the most in-demand athlete not with the Bandits, I'm sure Cat had a lot of other interview requests and I couldn't have faulted her if she declined, but she didn't.

Years later, when Team USA came to Rosemont to prepare for the Olympics, I again requested an interview with Cat and again did not expect it t happen. Once again, Cat gave me her time, despite the many requests.

Fast forward to this season at AU, Cat remained in demand, but she took part in many press sessions and meet-and-greets with fans. In fact, at the last weekend series, the line for Cat was cut off at one point, but Cat agreed to sign autographs and take pictures for another 30 minutes.

I have never seen athletes promote growing the sport as much as I have seen softball players do. Cat walks that walk better than anyone. Having a true great of the game giving so much of herself not only brings in more fans, it encourages other players to follow her lead.\

It has been an immense pleasure following and covering her career. It has been even a bigger thrill knowing Cat. She truly is a class act  on and off the field to everyone.

Thank you, Cat, for everything you have done. I sincerely hope our paths cross in the future. You might be retired, but I know you won't stray far from the softball field.

Cat's final media session can be found at On the Beat With Cat Osterman of Athletes Unlimited. Also, check AUProSports.com for more info on all AU Sports.

Congratulations to Aleshia Ocasio

Athletes Unlimited concluded their second season on Monday. Pitcher-hitter Aleshia Ocasio is the 2021 AU Champion!

Ocasio led her Team Gold to a 2-1 record, the same as Sahvanna Jaquish and Team Purple. Amanda Chidester's Team Orange and Carrie Eberle's Team Blue went 1-2 over the weekend.

The end result left Ocasio with 2,096 points to take the title. Chidester finished with 1,714, Kelsey Stewart with 1,612 and Eberle 1,592. In fifth was last year's champ Cat Osterman with 1,586. Osterman had a big jump from 13th place the previous week (but more on that in tomorrow's feature on Osterman on Global Women's Sports Radio).

Shortstop Anissa Urtez was named the 2021 Geico Defensive Player of the Year. Pitcher Eberle was named the 2021 Rookie of the Year.

Congrats to Ocasio, the other award winners and all of the athletes. Thank you to AU for access and hospitality all season. We look forward to AU Softball 2022!

Aleshia Ocasio and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2018.

Friend Encounters: Globie and Adam Chalifoux

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

Today's feature has a lot more going on than would appear in the picture. On the surface, it is a fan taking a picture with Globie, one of the mascots of the Harlem Globetrotters. That simple picture stirs up some thoughts from me though.

First, the fan is Adam Chalfoux, a journalist, writer and podcaster. Adam also is the son of Bill, a co-worker from my part-time job while in college. Back in 1986, Bill joined CWO&O as a young advertising sales person (now probably called an account executive). We had a lot of fun in and out of the office. Bill was a great guy.

Fast forward 35ish years and I connected with his son Adam on social media. Since then, I have interviewed Adam a couple times about his podcasts and the WNBA. As a basketball junkie, although not necessarily focused on the WNBA, I figured Adam would give a unique persepctive on the WNBA and he delivered as expected. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Adam Chalifoux.

Now I go to the part of the picture that bugs me. I am a mascot aficionado. I love mascots. I realize mascots are silly creations, but much like in wrestling, despite stretching my imagination, I still want some realism.

What exactly is this mascot? It's some figure with a globe for a head. I'm okay with taking liberties with mascots. Features can be distorted. Things don't have to be realistically proportionate. Parts can be added or subtracted. As long as the mascot bears some resemblance to something, I am okay with it.

I can even accept a creature not belonging to any specific species. The Phillie Phanatic isn't a specific animal, but it is animal-ish and that's good enough for me.

Again, I repeat. Globie is a figure with a globe for a head.

I am not denying Globie's resume. As part of the Globetrotters franchise, he is the most traveled mascot of all time (at least in sports). He's performed on six continents. He also has a big brother, Big G. (Great, there are two of them to annoy me.)

What would have been better, you ask? I would have gone with a friendly rat, as in gym rat. That seems to make sense to me.

Don't get me wrong. If I ever see Globie, I will definitely get a picture with it. A mascot is still a mascot and I still have a soft spot for any of them.

Now that I am riled up, I need to calm down. I think I will head over to a podcast platform to listen to Hoopstradamus or Running with the Bulls, the two podcasts hosted by Adam. They really are entertaining.

Adam Chalifoux and Globie in Great Falls, MT-November 2018.

On the Beat With the New York Liberty 09/25/2021

The New York Liberty held an "Exit Interview" media session yesterday. Writers were treated to an almost full team of Coach Walt Hopkins, Sami Whitcomb, Michaela Onyenwere, DiDi Richards, Sabrina Ionescu, Kylee Shook, Leaonna Odom, Reshanda Gray, Rebecca Allen, Betnijah Laney and Natasha Howard.

The bulk of the conversation focused on this season and next season, But there were a couple other topics thrown into the mix. For the most part, the team looked loose and relaxed and proud of their accomplishments this season.

Losing the single game elimination playoff to the Phoenix Mercury by one point could not have been easy to accept, but the team went out gracefully. The Liberty have no reason to be anything but proud. This team won two games in last season's abbreviated schedule. It was almost a certainty they would improve on that 2-20 record this season. They lost the same amount, but managed to win 10 more games to finish 12-20 and squeak into the playoffs as the eighth seed. A 12-20 season wouldn't ordinarily be a source of pride, but the big improvement, coupled with a playoff appearance is reason enough for the Liberty and their fans to have lots of hope for next season.

I thank the Liberty organization for access and hospitality all season. I appreciate the time of the coaches and players. We congratulate the organization on a major improvement and I look forward to being back "On the Beat" with the Liberty next season.

That media session can be found at On the Beat With the New York Liberty 09/25/2021. Go to WNBA.com for more info on the Liberty and the league. Check back here for my recurring coverage.

Pinfalls: WWE Extreme Rules 2021

Pinfalls is back taking a look at the  WWE Extreme Rules PPV this Sunday, September 26. With regular co-host Candace Cordelia on assignment with Pro Wrestling Illustrated, I got Joey Roth, a fixture on the Chicago wrestling and entertainment scene, to join me to look at Extreme Rules.

Joey is an actor, podcaster, host, wrestler, manager and more. He is the current Chicagoland Champion, holding that title for 909 days and counting. Currently causing havoc in POWW Entertainment, among other places, Joey can usually be seen with Roxie Heart, the Queen Villainess, Together "The Symbols" are quite the wrestling power couple. Joey has also joined me on some interviews for Johngy's Beat. With a resume like that, Joey was able to lend his unique insight to Pinfalls.

WWE Extreme Rules has six matches announced:

Raw Women's Championship

Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Alexa Bliss

SmackDown Women's Championship

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair

Liv Morgan vs. Carmella

Universal Championship

Roman Reigns (c) vs. Finn Balor

United States Championship

Damian Priest (c) vs. Sheamus vs. Jeff Hardy

SmackDown Tag Team Championship

The Usos (c) vs. The Street Profits

Joey and I agreed on some and disagreed on some. Even when we agreed, we had a couple different scenarios to go along with our predictions. We also discussed Zelina Vega, Doudrop, Eva Marie and the Women's Division, along with some other related topics. You'll have to watch the video to see all of that.

On Monday, I will recap the show and see how Joey and I did. I am 18-7 overall on my prognostications. Pinfalls can be found at Pinfalls: WWE Extreme Rules 2021.

Ashley Witter at C2E2 2019

Ashley Witter is a Chicago area artist. She has done work for Marvel, DC Comics, Hasbro and many more.

She also works on Squarriors is a comic book serial. The series is about clans of animals in a world without people. The animals have become much more intelligent and therefore struggle with instinct versus reason.

Like most artists, Witter also creates her own pieces and commissions. One of my favorites of hers is The Gotham Girls, featuring four popular female characters from Gotham City.

Much like athletes playing in front of their hometown fans, I wonder what it's like for artists and other creators appearing at a big comic con in their hometown. I imagine it is similarly exciting. You're at the top of your profession and you're meeting and promoting to folks from your area.

Go to AshleyWitter.com for all the info about her. Also, go to C2E2.com for info and scheduling on C2E2 2021.

Ashley Witter and me in Chicago, IL-March 2019.

Looking Forward to Franco at New York Comic Con

I am looking forward to New York Comic Con October 7-10. It'll be my first time there and I will be "On the Beat" covering all the fun.

Part of that fun will be catching up with artist, writer, creator and friend Franco. Also a teacher, Franco has done work for many companies and is compiling a lengthy resume.

I have had the pleasure of interviewing Franco a few times. The last time, Chicago entertainer extraordinaire Joey Roth handled the interview duties. He put a new spin on it, as a new fan of Franco. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Franco.

One of my favorite projects of Franco and Art is Arkhamaniacs. This is the story of an apartment building, owned by Wayne Industries and seemingly a place for lots of fun and excitement. A young Bruce Wayne is determined to find out why Arkham is full of so much laughter and merriment.

In addition to all of that, Franco also owns (with Art Baltazar) Aw Yeah Comics in New York and Skokie, Illinois. Aw Yeah is a fun comics shop. It's a bit old school with a modern feel. AA short walk from my place, I enjoy perusing their new arrivals.

Go to BlindWolfStudios.com AwYeahComics.com fr more info. Also, check NewYorkComicCon.com for info and scheduling.

Franco and me in Skokie, IL-Summer 2021.

CM Punk at C2E2 2019

After a seven year absence< CM Punk returned to wrestling at All Elite Wrestling's Rampage in Chicago in September. Punk received a huge ovation. It was one of the loudest and longest crowd reactions I have witnessed in wrestling and he deserved it. Love him or not, Punk has made his mark and looks to add to his legacy.

I have met him many times at comic cons, wrestling shows and charity events. I have enjoyed each encounter.

One such time was at C2E2 2019, when I my friend Glen and Patrick Rylko and I met him. Granted, you don't have much time at these such events, but the key is to make the most of those precious few minutes. Punk made it a fun time and that is all I can ask of any celeb.

C2E2 2021 runs December 10-12. I don't know if Punk will be there, but I have a feeling he will. I know I will be there "On the Beat" as usual. I also think Glen will be there, maybe with his wife Alicia. I hope all are there, because it is going to be a blast.

Go to C2E2.com for all the info and scheduling. Also, check out AllEliteWrestling.com for more info on Punk and his squared circle mates at AEW.

Patrick Rylko, Glen Rylko, CM Punk and me in Chicago, IL-March 2019.

On the Beat With Athletes Unlimited Softball Week Four

Week Four of Athletes Unlimited Softball produced some interesting results. There's a new overall leader and reigning champ Cat Osterman has dropped out of the top ten in the standings. Mid-season arrival Kayla Wedl had her first pro hit. Anissa Urtez won a game MVP on Hispanic Heritgae Day.

Amanda Chidester led Team Gold to a perfect 3-0 record. Aleshia Ocasio's Team Purple went 2-1 and Sahvanna Jaquish's Team Orange went 1-2. Surprisingly, Cat Osterman's Team Blue went 0-3.

Despite her team going 3-0, Chiddy actually dropped one spot in the standings and now trails new leader Aleshia Ocasio by 52 points. Newcomer to the top four is Carrie Eberle with 1,378 points. Rounding out the top four spots is Sahvanna Jaquish, who dropped two spots, with 1,336. Osterman dropped to 12th place with 1,186. While it is possible to jump a lot of places (see Eberle's jump of 16 places), I don't see Osterman rebounding that much. I think it's Ocasio's time to win it all. 

On her way to her big vault in the standings, Eberle picked up two MVP awards. Alyssa Denham and Anissa Urtez finished in the top three for two of the games. 

Game 19-Alyssa Denham, Tori Vidales, Nadia Taylor

Game 20-Anissa Urtez, Sam Fischer, Sara Groenewegen

Game 21-Gwen Svekis, Odicci Alexander, Kelsey Stewart

Game 22-Carrie Eberle, Anissa Urtez, Morgan Zerkle

Game 23-Amanda Sanchez, Lilly Piper, Alesia Ocasio

Game 24-Carrie Eberle, Ali Aguilar, Alyssa Denham

The AU Week Five Draft is tonight at 5 PM CST. The teams return to the softball field Saturday as Eberle's Team Blue faces Chidester's Team Orange at noon CST. The nightcap sees Ocasio's Team Gold battling Jaquish's Team Purple at 3 pm CST. The season ends on Monday with the final game at 9 pm CST featuring Team Orange and Team Gold.

The postgame press session for Saturday featured Tori Vidales, Alyssa Denham, Nadia Taylor, Anissa Urtez, Sara Groenewegen and Sam Fischer. That interview session can be found at On the Beat With Athletes Unlimited Softball 09/18/2021.

Go to AUProSports.com for more info on all of AU leagues. Check back here for my continuing coverage of all AU Sports.

Friend Encounters: Chris Zorich and Tony Feddeler

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

My friend Tony Feddeler is usually known to be a fan of the Seattle Seahawks, but today I feature him with a legendary player from the Chicago Bears.

Native Chicagoan Chris Zorich was a star at Notre Dame, before being selected by the Bears in the second round of the 1991 NFL Draft. Zorich played with the Bears for most of his career, before finishing with the Washington Redskins for a few games in 1997. He was named an alternate for the 1993 Pro Bowl. 

I was always a big fan of Zorich. I attended several events held by the Christopher Zorich Foundation back in the day.

Zorich's latest endeavor is the Chris Zorich podcast. Zorich has had many former Notre Dame players on his podcast, including Rocky Bleier, Joe Montana, Joe Theismann and others. Of course, it is not just all about Notre Dame. It's a highly entertaining listen and I encourage everyone to give it a try.

I am also a fan of Tony. As I have previously written, I don't remember where we first met. We have narrowed it down to the Chicago Bandits softball game, a comic con or a wrestling event. That doesn't really help much though. It really doesn't matter though. We've had many great times at all of these events over the years.

One such event was the Chicago Pop Culture Con in 2019. We actually crossed paths at Zorich's booth. I think I even took the picture.

It was great seeing Zorich again. It had been many years since the last time I saw him. He's really a great guy. I say the same thing about Tony, too.

The Chicago Pop Culture Con is a fun event. It isn't huge, but they have a solid guest lineup and it is well-run. It's a staple on my convention circuit every year.

Look for The Chris Zorich Podcast on YouTube. Check out ChicagoPopCultureCon.com for news and updates on future events.

Tony Feddeler and Chris Zorich in St. Charles, IL-December 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #555 Pat Mahomes & Alex Morgan

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue working my way alphabetically through all MLB teams.

Patrick Mahomes is a second generation athlete. Patrick's father Pat pitched for several teams during a 12 year MLB career. Selected by the Kansas City Chiefs with the 10th pick in the 2017 NFL Draft and has since led them to a Super Bowl victory. After four seasons, he has a 38-8 winning record and is already being compared to the greatest QBs of all time. Patrick tossed a first pitch for the Kansas City Royals to earn his Celebrity Jersey Card. I am sure it was on target.

Born in California, Alex Morgan Morgan attended UC Berkeley, where she played for the California Golden Bears from 2007 to 2010. She has played for several teams professionally, as well as Team USA. Among her many awards, Morgan won a Gold Medal at the 2012 Olympics. Morgan was given the nickname "Baby Horse" by her teammates on the U.S. women's national team for her speed, running style, and youth. Morgan earned her Celebrity Jersey Card while throwing a ceremonial pitch for the Royals.

On the Beat With the Dallas Wings 09/16/2021

The Dallas Wings held a practice day media session featuring Coach Vickie Johnson, Tyasha Harris and Marina Mabrey. It was a quick, but interesting session.

Coach Johnson started by discussing the playoffs. As expected, she stated making the playoffs is great, but it's only the start. It's not enough to simply make the playoffs. While I agree with Coach Johnsopn in theory, guiding the Wings to a playoff berth in her first season is quite an accomplishment and bodes well for the future.

I asked Coach Johnson about dealing with a losing stretch. The Wings went through a 2-6 skid in July and August. During stretches like that, when does a Coach shake up things versus stayibgthe course? Coach Johnson gave her insight. I still wonder if the streak went longer what would have happened. Fortunately for the Wings, they were able to get back on track.

Finally, I asked Coach Johnson about a sandwich named after her at the Carnegie Deli in New York years ago. She chuckled a bit and stated she did enjoy the sandwich, but she had a slimmed down version of the 3,000 calorie monster.

Next up, Harris talked about lessons from this season. Harris is having a similar season to her last, mostly coming off the bench, but providing a solid contribution.

Last was Mabrey. I asked her to talk about her clothing line, which she gladly did. All of her products can be found on MarinaMabrey3.com.

Dallas is 13-18, in fifth place of the WNBA Western Conference. With the league reseeding in the playoffs, in the first round, Dallas will face the Chicago Sky, who will finish in second place of the Eastern Conference. It's a single elimination game in Chicago. Despite home court and a slightly better record, I think the Sky will be a low points favorite.

The media session can be found at On the Beat With the Dallas Wings 09/16/2021. Go to WNBA.com for more news on the Wings and the league. Also, return here for more coverage.

Abby Ramirez and her Father With Special Moment at Athletes Unlimited Softball

Last Saturday, I witnessed one of the most touching moments ever on a softball field. Athletes Unlimited's Abby Ramirez caught a ceremonial pitch from her father Ruben.

Ruben, ICC Chief of Police, was honored for his selfless response to the events of 9/11. Ruben tossing the pitch to Abby, followed by their embrace was a simple, yet touching moment. It was a fitting tribute honoring all efforts from that tragic day. Abby would go on to place third in the MVP voting on Sunday, which was Causes Day.

Ruben and Abby embraced after the pitch, as the crowd erupted in applause. It was a touching moment and the perfect way to start what was a special weekend. On the 20th anniversary of one of the most tragic events in world history, the packed stands joined Abby is saluting her father, who represented all who gave themselves to the effort during that horrible time.

Having known Abby for several years, I know she appreciated the whole day more than anyone (except maybe her dad). The Ramirez family deserved all of the love on Saturday and I am happy to have witnessed it all.

Abby Ramirez and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2019.

Meeting Simply Sound

I have wanted to see Simply Sound perform live for a while. When I saw they were appearing at Moretti's near me, I finally did.

Simply Sound is comprised of Rod Guico and Katie Somers. They play a wide range of songs from today and the past decades, covering hits from Tom Petty, Ed Sheeran, Bruno Mars, Lady Gaga and more. I enjoy all of their covers, but especially love their harmonizing.

At Moretti's, I didn't submit a request, but I was happy when they performed Billy Joel's Piano Man. I don't like many covers of it, but I really enjoyed their version.

They were also super nice when I talked to them prior to the show. Simply Sound appears at many places around the area, seemingly doing a circuit. I am sure they will return to Moretti's and I will be there again.

Check out SimplySoundLive.com for more info. Also, follow Simply Sound on Facebook for more frequent updates.

Rod Guico, Katie Somers and me in Morton Grove, IL-July 2021.

Amanda Chidester Tops Athletes Unlimited Leaderboard

With three weeks in the books for Athletes Unlimited Softball, Amanda Chidester leads the pack. Chiddy's great weekend allowed her to vault 12 spots into the top position.

Three of the top four spots are held be former Chicago Bandits. Chiddy leads with 1,132 points, followed by Sahvanna Jaquish and Cat Osterman tied with 1,118. Aleshia Ocasio is in fourth with 1,116 points. Last year's champ Osterman is the one never to have donned the Bandits uniform, but we love her anyway.

Chiddy is the catcher who grabbed my "slightly" high ceremonial first pitch and called it a strike later in a media session (which I have recorded as proof). A big favorite in Rosemont, fans always join in when her "Chitty Chitty Bang Bang" walkup music plays. 

There are still two more weeks to play and a lot can happen (as witness by Chidester's big leap this week). Osterman is always a threat and the top ten are separated by a mere 244 points. Things are really heating up and the finish should be exciting.

Go to Athletes Unlimited Softball Week 3 Recap for more info. Also, check AUProSports.com for full game summaries from Bruce Miles.

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

On the Beat With Athletes Unlimited Softball 09/11/2021

This Sunday was a special day for Athletes Unlimited Softball. It was Causes Day.

Part of the unique structure of all Athletes Unlimited sports is the Athletes Causes Program, empowered by Give Lively. Each player chooses a charity, which will get 50% of that player's season bonus. It's a wonderful program, which not only raises money, but also awareness for the charities.

Players can also create their own fundraising pages to support their cause. They also use their social media platforms as another means of spreading the word.

This is such a special feature of AU. The players have strong connections to their causes. Many players have personal or community interactions with the causes.

After Saturday's games, Bubba Nickles, Kelsey Harshman, Dejah Mulipola, Amanda Lorenz, Aleshia Ocasio and Taylor Edwards participated in the post-game press session. The players talked about why they selected their causes. That press session can be found at On the Beat With Athletes Unlimited Softball 09/11/2021.

For more detailed info, go to the Causes page on AUProSports.com. Also check back here for my recurring coverage of AU sports.

Friend Encounters: Heather Furr and Alli Alberts

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

Is today's feature really a Friend Encounter? Is a picture of two teammates really a celebrity encounter? It's my site and my rules, and I say it qualifies. Besides, it gives me another reason to write about two of my favorites from my years covering the Chicago Bliss of the Legends Football League.

Heather "Rockstar" Furr and Alli "Bert" Alberts were two key parts of the Bliss dynasty. Together they won multiple titles, collected many awards, received a lot of accolades and had a big fan base.

Heather was the quarterback and a natural leader. She wasn't the best pure QB in the league, nor did she possess the best QB skills, but she was a winner and as tough as could be. She was the female version of a healthy Jim McMahon. Heather knew how to play, knew how to market herself and the team and was just fun to watch. I would take Heather on my team every time!

Alli was Heather's favorite target. A star wide receiver, Alli also shined on defense. She had great hands and looked so smooth on the field. She could also mix it up with the toughest of them.

They were great solo and even better together. Best of all, they were incredibly nice people, who always had time for an interview or chat.

Several years removed from their playing days, Alli is well into her dentistry career and Heather is carving her niche in real estate. Both are married with one young one.

I have a lot of great memories of covering the Bliss. Actually, Heater and Alli were two of the first four Bliss players I ever interviewed at a sports convention in Rosemont in 2013. At the time, I didn't have a clue at how much fun was ahead.

I will always have great memories of Alli and Heather. I appreciate all they did on and off the field. I thank them for their time, consideration and friendship always.

Alli Alberts and Heather Furr in Chicago, IL-November 2017.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #554 John Hickenlooper & Jared Polis

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue working my way alphabetically through all MLB teams.

Pennsylvania native John Hickenlooper was mayor of Denver from 2003 to 2011 and governor of Colorado from 2011 to 2019. He currently serves as a senator for Colorado. He did commit a jersey infraction by tucking in his jersey, while tossing a pitch for the Rockies. Still, he earned a Celebrity Jersey card. The #12 was most notably worn by Clint Barmes. 

Born in Boulder, Colorado to the founders of greeting card and book publisher Blue Mountain Arts, Jared Polis succeeded Hickenlooper as Governor of Colorado. Polis is one of the few people to be openly gay when first elected to the U.S. House of Representatives, and the first gay parent in Congress. Polis attended a Rockies game with team owner Dick Monfort in a rare Celebrity Jersey Card showing someone in the stands and featuring a team owner. This card also bends the time continuum, as the Rockies were not in existence at the time of the original set.

Cards That Never Were: Vince Clements Topps 1973

Cards That Never Were i a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for players missed in various sets over the years. It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many folks to list, but I appreciate all of their efforts. Many such creations can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards group on Facebook (and not just baseball cards).

After a successful career at the University of Connecticut, running back Vince Clements was selected by the Minnesota Vikings in the 4th round of the 1971 NFL Draft. After seeing no action in 1971, he was traded by the Vikings in a huge deal with the New York Giants. Clements, Norm Snead, Bob Grim, a first rounder in 1972 (24th overall–Larry Jacobson) and a second rounder in 1973 (40th overall–Brad Van Pelt) were sent to the Giants for Fran Tarkenton in January 1972. Clements played two seasons for the Giants, before moving on to the World Football League's Honolulu Hawaiians.

All told in his career, Clements played 16 games over two seasons with the Giants, gaining 435 yards for a 4.2 yards per carry average and 24 receptions for 247 yards. He scored one touchdown rushing and receiving. With the Hawaiians, he had 108 rushes for 352 yards for a 3.25 yards per carry average and 42 receptions for 375 yards. He had two rushing TDs.

For his efforts, Clements received a card in the Topps 1974 set, which would be a career capper. Nobody produced cards for the WFL, leaving only a 1973 Topps card missing. I had searched for an image for years, but Lynn from the aforementioned FB group, found one first and produced this awesome card

Kayla Wedl From UIC to AU

Kayla Wedl was a softball pitcher in high school, but moved to the infield when she played at the University of Illinois at Chicago. In addition to being a star player at UIC, she also earned a degree in Kinesiology and is working on a Master's degree in Marketing.

Ay UIC, she was the 2021 Horizon League Player of the Year. That was just one of many awards and accolades she earned in a stellar career at UIC.

In June, Athletes Unlimited held its first open tryouts and Kayla won a spot on the 2021 league roster. As I have previously documented several times, AU doesn't have set teams, but rather has weekly redrafts. That's why Kayla earned a league roster spot and not a specific team.

As is the case for all AU players, part of Kayla's earnings in the league go to the charity of her choosing. For Kayla, that is Players for Pits, an organization dedicated to saving pit bull type dogs in Chicago-area animal controls. The goal is to decrease the number of pit bull type dogs dying in shelters and to make the nation no kill.

I had the pleasure of meeting Kayla at the first set of games this season. As a local athlete, she was very busy with family and friends, but she was kind enough to give me a few moments.

Follow her at @kaylawedl on Instagram. Also, check AUProSports.com for more info on Kayla and the rest of the league.

Kayla Wedl and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2021.

On the Beat With the Atlanta Dream 09/08/2021

The WNBA Atlanta Dream announced Morgan Shaw Parker as new Team President and Chief Operating Officer. The team held a press session featuring Owner and Chairman Larry Gottesdiener, Co-Owner and Vice-President Renee Montgomery and Shaw Parker. That media session can be found at On the Beat With the Atlanta Dream 09/08/2021.

In her role as President and COO of the Dream, Shaw Parker will oversee day-to-day business operations and revenue growth. She will manage sponsorships, ticketing, retail, marketing, digital, in-game experience, human resources, community engagement and research and analytics. She will work closely with owners Larry Gottesdiener, Suzanne Abair and Renee Montgomery. 

Montgomery was bursting with enthusiasm in the press session. “I am ecstatic to welcome Morgan to the Atlanta Dream family. Her enthusiasm for making an impact on the City of Atlanta is exactly the kind of leadership we need. I can’t wait to collaborate with Morgan to boost our players’ visibility in the community, to continue earning the respect of our city, and to make sure that the game we love is accessible to all those who want to be part of the WNBA experience.”

Gottesdiener added, “Morgan Shaw Parker is an absolute force in the sports industry, and she will be a true game-changer for the Atlanta Dream. Morgan’s genuine, thoughtful professionalism was an instant fit for our culture, and her passion for women’s sports matches our own.”

Shaw Parker was obviously just excited to get started. “It is an incredible honor to join the WNBA and the Atlanta Dream, an organization whose new leadership celebrates its players and embraces their powerful roles both on the court and in the Atlanta community. I have proactively championed women’s sports throughout my entire career and there’s no better time than now for me to take an active leadership role to shine a spotlight on these amazing athletes. I’m committed to working as hard as our athletes do to build an authentic brand that empowers women, represents the city, and exemplifies how a model professional sports franchise should be run.”

With more than 25 years experience of leadership at all levels of the sports industry, Shaw Parker looks to bring much-needed stability to the Dream organization, as well as marketing and communications strategies. Among her other positions, Shaw Parker was with Nike for more than a decade and the Kansas City Chiefs for five years, in addition to sports marketing agencies for several years. She was named as one of its “2019 Most Powerful Women in Sports” by AdWeek.

Shaw Parker's appointment is the latest in a series of changes within the organization, which included a new ownership group. Montgomery is the first former player to become both an owner and executive in the WNBA. In the middle of the many changes, the Dream was named the 2020 ESPN Sports Humanitarian Team of the Year for the work the players did towards the social justice and change movements.

The Dream, stand at 7-21 with four games remaining. They travel to DC, then host Indiana and Los Angeles, before finishing the season in Connecticut. They lead Indiana by half a game in the race to avoid the league's worst record. Washington and LA are both three games ahead of Atlanta.

While this has been a disappointing season for Atlanta, Shaw Parker joining the organization is one more move in the right direction to get Atlanta back on track. With new ownership and upper management in place, brighter days are ahead for the Dream.

Jungle Boy Carves Own Path

Several years ago, Jungle Boy appeared at Resistance Pro Wrestling. I heard of him, but had never seen him live. I was excited to finally see him perform and he did not disappoint. In fact, he was far more polished than I expected a wrestler of his age and experience. I thought he had a bright future.

Unfortunately, he did not return to RPro. Even more unfortunately, I failed to get a picture with him when he was there.

I did get to talk to him that night though. I told him a few of my stories of interacting with his dad. For those who don't know, Jungle Boy is the son of the late Luke Perry.

I had several fun exchanges with the elder Perry. One involved him unintentionally almost costing me an interview with Lauren Holly. Another involved him joking with my photog pal Jack, calling him "Sniper" for his quick and accurate shooting ability. Both became long-running jokes whenever I saw him at future events. Like all, I was terribly saddened by his passing.

As for Jungle Boy, he did not make his name as Luke's son. While he had a great relationship with his dad, he wanted to succeed on his own and therefore requested not to be billed as Luke's son. I even joked with him saying eventually, Luke would be billed as Jungle Boy's dad. 

Since then, Jungle Boy has made an impression on the wrestling world. He is currently signed with All Elite Wrestling, where he is a rising star.

Recently, AEW and Pro Wrestling Tees held a charity softball game to benefit PAWS. I got to meet Jungle Boy there and finally got a picture with him.

Jungle Boy has a bright future. Still a young 24, he is still improving. He seems to have his father's great qualities, too. He's humble, well-spoken and respectful of his business and fans.

Folly him at @boy_myth_legend on Instagram. Also, go to AllEliteWrestling.com for more news.

Jack Perry (Jungle Boy) and me in Schaumburg, IL-September 2021.

On the Beat With Val Capone

I can't believe it, but I first met Val Capone eight years ago at the UIC Pavilion, when she was skating with the Windy City Rollers. Val was a big part of WCR as a skater and broadcaster for more than a decade.

Established in 2004, WCR is Chicago's first flat-track roller derby league. A founding member of the Women's Flat Track Derby Association, the league is real sport, operating with rules and a scoring system. The only thing made up are the fun player names, like Val Capone. Val and her #89 jersey (for the legendary Mike Ditka) are as Chicago as can be.

In recent years, Val turned her attention to another of her passions, by becoming a broadcaster for local wrestling promotions. It was a smooth transition, which shouldn't surprise anyone. Val brings her dedication and focus to all she attempts and rises to any challenge.

Unfortunately, one of her challenges is her battle with Crohn's Disease. Despite surgeries, setbacks and other nasty effects, Val refuses to let it beat her. She makes the necessary concessions and adjustments, but it isn't stopping Val from living her life to the fullest and being an inspiration to all. The workout and practice schedule for WCR is grueling at times, yet Val worked hard, took the bumps and gave it her all.

Having not interviewed Val in several years, an update interview was long overdue. At the recent softball game pitting Pro Wrestling Tees against All Elite Wrestling to benefit PAWS, I finally had the opportunity to get that update interview.

We covered a little bit of everything, including her roller derby days, her position at the broadcast booth, Pro Wrestling Tees, dealing with Crohn's Disease and more. I couldn't take too much of her time, because she had to get ready for her catching duties. With Val seemingly constantly on the move, I was happy to steal a few moments with her.

Through her accomplishments, Val inspires all around her. She is a perfect example of following a passion and making it happen. She loved wrestling and found a way to become part of that world, without delivering body slams. She is living with Crohn's Disease, but not being defeated by it. She sets an example all can follow, even an old reporter like me.

I appreciate Val for her time and consideration with this interview. More importantly, I appreciate Val for being Val, larger-than-life, but completely down-to-earth. Our interview can be found at On the Beat With Val Capone.

Friendly Encounters: DiJonai Carrington and Henry Gee

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

The WNBA is back after a break for the Olympics. That means Global Women's Sports Radio is back bringing WNBA news daily.

GWSR was started by Henry Gee. He wisely asked me to join his efforts as Senior Contributor and we have been going strong for the last 18 months.

Earlier this season, Henry attended a game in Phoenix, when the Mercury hosted the Connecticut Sun. Ever his own man, Henry got a picture with the visitors' DiJonai Carrington and not any of his hometown Mercury players.

After a successful collegiate career, Carrington was selected by the Sun in the second round (20th overall) in the 2021 WNBA draft. In her first year, she is averaging 2.6 points, 1.9 rebounds and 0.5 assists per game. Because the Sun are loaded, playng time is hard to get, but Carrington is making the most of her 9.2 minutes per game. She looks to have a bright future.

GWSR also seems to have a bright future. Henry is working hard always to get more and better content. He has added several cool elements and more good things are coming. I am happy to be a part of GWSR and look to grow with it.

Check our the site at GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com. Also check out WNBA.com for more news and info on Carrington and the league.

Henry Gee and DiJonai Carrington in Phoenix, AZ-June 2021.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #553 Karyn Williams & Nicki Bluhm

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue working my way alphabetically through all MLB teams.

Musician Karyn Williams was born in Florida. She is the daughter of famous sports executive Pat Williams. She has a degree in Broadcast Journalism from the University of Florida. She focuses mostly on Christian music and two of her singles placed on the Christian Songs chart. Williams sang the National Anthem for the Cincinnati Reds and wore a Bronson Arroyo jersey to earn her first Celebrity Jersey Card.. 

Nicki Bluhm is a singer-songwriter from Lafayette, California who formed The Gramblers in 2008. Bluhm released two albums with the Gramblers and four solo albums. We sang the National Anthem for the Reds while wearing a custom #22 jersey to get her Celebrity Jersey Card. The Reds have had a lot of players wear #22, but none really stand out. Currently, pitcher Wade Miley wears that number.

On the Beat With Marla McKenna

Author Marla McKenna's first book, Mom's Big Catch, was inspired by a real life incident at a Milwaukee Brewers game. She didn't know it at the time, but one game, one moment even, totally changed her life.

Mom's Big Catch is the story of the pursuit of catching a ball at a Brewers game. The title might be a clue as to what happens, but I am not giving out any of the story. You have to buy the book to find out.

Written for children, Mom's Big Catch can also be enjoyed by adults as a quick, fun read. It's also customizable for any team. With a special editions featuring the Brewers, the Chicago Cubs and other teams, Mom's Big Catch is also interesting to team collectors.

One added bonus is partial proceeds from Marla’s books benefit the Linda Blair WorldHeart Foundation and legendary musician Rick Springfield matches the donations. The story on how this came to be is fascinating, as you will hear in the interview below.

Marla was just getting started though. Next came Sadie's Big Steal, I'm A Secret Superhero and A Soccer Summer Dream with The Milwaukee Torrent.  I like how Marla weaves in some important issues, like bullying, without being preachy. Marla presents life lessons in entertaining ways within the stories.

Not leaving children's books behind, Marla turned her attention to more serious topics. Our Last Day in Heaven (co-written with Alex Hoffman and Michael Nicloy) and Manifesting Your Dreams were her next two books.

Having interviewed Marla several years ago and following her career since, it was time for an update interview with her. Marla talked about her books, her love of sports, meeting her sports heroes, being a woman writer and much more.

It was such a pleasure talking to Marla. She has a real passion for writing and giving. She has a genuine appreciation for the teams (like the Brewers, Cubs, Torrent and more) and players (like Fergie Jenkins, Rollie Fingers, Geoff Jenkins, Paul Molitor and many more) who have been involved in her career.

I tried to get a scoop on Marla's next project. She assured me she has ideas, but did not reveal them yet. Whatever she does, I am sure will be highly enjoyable.

It might be a case of art imitating life for Marla. She is a great example of manifesting your dreams. In a feature on Oprah Daily last year, Marla stated, “The easiest way to manifest anything is to be clear about what you want. Don’t give the universe mixed signals... and take action. Working toward your goals is imperative.” Marla did all that and more and the results are six great books with more to come.

The interview is at On the Beat With Marla McKenna. After you watch our interview, you can learn more about Marla at MarlaMcKenna.com. She cautions it is a bit under construction, but it still has a lot of great info. Soon, it will be even better. Also, follow Marla on all social media platforms.

On of the real joys of what I do is meeting people like Marla and spreading the news. She's a positive person with interesting stories to tell. I am going to continue following her career developments and I encourage all to do so, too.

Thank you to Marla for her time and consideration. Thanks, also, for providing great fun for all sports fans, young and old..

Happy Birthday Matt!

Today is my nephew Matt's birthday,. I am sure he is celebrating with his beautiful family, but I toast him from here.

Matt and I had so many fun adventures. He helped me so much in the early days of Johngy's Beat. He got Roddy Piper to do a promo for the Beat. He hung in there and secured my interview with Lauren Holly. He did so much and I appreciate all of it. I will always think fondly of the sports trips, comic cons, wrestling events and more that we enjoyed.

Now, Matt is a family man, married with two beautiful little ones. It's awesome to see him in this light. It's even better seeing him happy and living his life. I couldn't be happier for all of them.

I'm sure Erin, Delaney and Theo are making his birthday special, but I am sending birthday greetings right here. Happy birthday, Matt. I love ya, Big Money.

Matt, Delaney, Theo and Erin in IL-August 2021.

Cards That Never Were: Marc Hill Topps 1974 & '87

Cards That Never Were is a recurring series in which I create virtual cards for players missed in various sets over the years. It is a concept I have borrowed from far too many to list, but I appreciate all of them. You can find more of my creations and a lot of other great creations (and not just baseball cards) in the Custom Baseball Cards group on Facebook.
Another great source for virtual cards is When Topps Had Balls. Gio's site has thousands of card creations, including one I showcase today.
Marc Hill was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals in the 10th round of the 1970 MLB draft. He made his MLB debut in 1973 with a one game appearance. After playing in 10 games in 1974, he was traded to the San Francisco Giants after the season. After 5.5 seasons with the Giants, the Seattle Mariners purchased him midway through the '80 season. After half a season with the Mariners, he signed as a free agent with the Chicago White Sox, for whom he played through the 1986 season. All told, Hill played in 737 games, getting 404 hits for a .223 average, with 34 HRs, 198 RBIs, 146 runs and one stolen base.
I had a funny experience with Hill once. At a card show, Hill mentioned that Carlton Fisk and he owned the White Sox catching tandem HR record of 37 in 1985. Fisk actually had 37 HRs that year and Hill had 0, but as a pair, they do own the record!
For his efforts, Topps put Hill on a multi-player rookie card in their '75 set. He received a solo card in every set 1976 through 1986. That left a 1974 rookie card and an '87 "career capper" card. Gio from WTHB created the '74 card. That left the '87 card for me to create. Now Hill has his complete set.

A Night of Music With Erik Donner

Ral Donner was a singer with several hits in the 1960s. He had a voice similar to Elvis Presley, but a style all his own.

My friends turned me on to his son Erik, also a musician. Yesterday, I finally had the chance to see Erik perform. We all met at Avanzare, a classic Italian restaurant west of Chicago, where Erik was the happy hour entertainment. 

Although I enjoyed many of his performances online, seeing Erik live brought a new appreciation. He has an amazing raw energy and a connection with his audience. I definitely heard his dad's influence in his singing, but this wasn't a novelty act. 

For more than two hours, Erik delighted the crowd with his takes on songs, mostly from the 1960s and ‘70s, including a couple of his dad's hits. Taking requests, Erik showcased his range. Erik sprinkled in just enough banter to add to the show, without taking away from his music.

Wanting something light in the summer heat, I ordered the pear salad, a mix of poached pears, arugula, almonds and goat cheese with a lemon dressing. I was looking forward to this salad since we planned the outing.I was hooked as soon as I saw goat cheese was in the salad!

After the show, Erik came over and talked for a bit. He gave s a few facts about his dad, including him providing voice-over narration (in the voice of Elvis) in This Is Elvis, a 1981 film. Displaying a deep respect for his late father, Erik is carrying on the Donner legacy in his own way. His father would be proud.

Erik Donner and me in Lombard, IL-July 2021.