Friend Encounter: RIP Glen Rylko

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

Today is a special and very sad Friend Encounter. It is also a salute to a good friend of mine.

I met Glen Rylko many years ago at Resistance Pro Wrestling, although our paths crossed several times at other events.

We became friends over our mutual interest in comic cons, sports and wrestling. Over the years, I got to know his son Patrick and wife Alicia. Glen was a fun guy, knowledgeable and respectful of sports and wrestling. He was a man of deep faith, too. I liked, appreciated and respected Glen.

The last time I saw Glen was at C2E2, right before the pandemic hit. Since then, we communicated mostly by text. We had hopes and plans to finally get together at a comic con this year. Unfortunately, those plans would not happen.

I knew Glen was ill. In our last few texts I could tell he wasn't doing well, but he kept up his spirits and his spirituality. The texts stopped a couple weeks ago. I knew that was a bad sign. Yesterday morning, Patrick texted me informing me of Glen's passing.

They say he's in a better place. They say he's no longer suffering. That's the consolation for those who knew him.

I'll miss Glen, but I will remember our fun times and many interesting chats. Rest in peace, Glen. I love ya, buddy!

Alicia and Glen Rylko and me in Chicago, IL-March 2020.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #572 Mandy Moore & Velvet Sky

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series featuring virtual cards I created for celebrities wearing jerseys. The Wild Card Round of the NFL playoffs was tough for Pennsylvania teams.

Singer, actress Mandy Moore was born in Nashua, NH, but became a fan of the Pittsburgh Steelers. She is often spotted wearing Steelers gear, including on television's This Is Us. In one particular scene, Moore wore a Terry Bradshaw #12. The scene, featuring co-star Milo Ventimiglia, earned Moore her Celebrity Jersey Card and the love of Steeler Nation.

Velvet Sky makes another Celebrity Jersey Card appearance. This time, she reps the Philadelphia Eagles and #9 Nick Foles, who currently is with the Chicago Bears. Velvet has made many Celebrity Jersey Cards appearances thanks to her NFVel poster line. All are available at RatedV.net.

Pinfalls: WWE Royal Rumble 2022

Earlier this week on Global Women's Sports Radio, I wrote Beat the Experts, featuring WWE Women's Royal Rumble predictions from 50 wrestlers, promoters, writers and other folks from the wrestling community. GWSR Contributor Tommy Else and I present made our predictions at Pinfalls: WWE Royal Rumble 2022.

The Royal Rumble airs on the Peacock Network on Saturday, January 29 at 6 PM from The Dome at America's Center in St. Louis, Missouri. Six matches have been announced:

WWE Championship-Brock Lesnar (c) vs. Bobby Lashley

RAW Championship-Roman Reigns (c) vs. Seth Rollins

RAW Women's Championship-Becky Lynch (c) vs. Doudrop

Mixed Tag Team-Edge and Beth Phoenix vs. The Miz and Maryse

Men's Royal Rumble

Women's Royal Rumble

As usual, Tommy and I delved into all the matches, focusing on the women's matches. In a surprising development, Tommy and I agreed on all six matches, including picking the same winners for both Royal Rumble matches. You'll have to watch the video to see our predictions.

The Women's Royal Rumble is especially interesting. There are so many scenarios, possibilities and questions. There are several returning legends already announced. Some appear to be mere filler (Bella Twins, Michelle McCool, Kelly Kelly, Summer Rae), while at least one (Lita) appears to have a legitimate shot (at least according to the many experts who picked her in Beat the Experts. Returning veteran Mickie James brings a lot of possibilities all by herself.

In our lifetime stats, Tommy is a solid 14-14, while I somehow have compiled a 43-16 record (although only 2-3 on the last Pinfalls). Other Pinfalls contributors include Candace Cordelia 20-13, Adam Barnard 4-3 and Joey Roth 3-4. Together we are a very respectable 84-50 (62.6 percent).

As always, I will recap the outcome on Sunday, including how well Tommy and I did. I will also give kudos to any of our Beat the Experts contributors who correctly predicted the Women's Royal Rumble winner.

Tune into the Royal Rumble on Peacock and watch the fun unfold. Check back here for our coverage.

Sahvanna Jaquish of Team USA

It's the middle of winter and my mind drifts to warmer days on the softball field. I still miss the Chicago Bandits, but Athletes Unlimited Softball fills that void pretty good.

Sahvanna Jaquish is one of many athletes who have played in both leagues. I first met Sahvanna when she joined the Bandits. My first interview with her can be found at On the Beat With Sahvanna Jaquish.

In addition to the great softball on the field, AU athletes do special things off the field. Each athlete plays for a cause. That charity gets a portion of the player's earnings from the season. It's a way to raise money and awareness for many worthy causes.

In 2021, Sahvanna played for Geaux Teal, which raises awareness for women of all ages about the signs and symptoms of ovarian cancer. For more info, go to GeauxTeal.com.

AU Softball starts in June with AUX, a two week stand alone softball tournamenty. The third regular season of AU Softball starts in late August. I will again be "On the Beat" all season. I wouldn't miss it.

Go to AUProSports.com for more info and full game summaries from Bruce Miles. Also check back here for my recurring coverage.

Sahvanna Jaquish and me in Rosemont, IL-Summer 2017.

Chicago Auto Show Mitch Trubisky

The Chicago Auto Show returns to its usual winter time slot, running February 12-20 at McCormick Place. Today's feature represents a better time. It represents time good times and a hope for the future. 

Mitch Trubisky had finished his first season with the Chicago Bears. While he struggled at times and the Bears played poorly as a team, there was a feeling of optimism. Trubisky was the top draft pick for the Bears in 2017. A lot of the future rode on his shoulders.

Unfortunately, things never got better. In fact, things got worse for Trubisky, the Bears and the world (although that wasn't Trubisky's fault). After four mediocre seasons, the Bears parted ways with Trubisky and he signed with the Buffalo Bills, where he served as a backup for the 2021 season.

I don't lay all of the blame on him though. Coaching and play-calling has been horrendous at times. He never had enough offensive talent either. That combination isn't a good one. Even an elite QB would not make much of that mess. Trubisky showed signs of promise, but never enough and not consistently.

I look back at this picture and I remember telling him he had the potential to be the best QB I have seen for the Bears. Indeed this was a happier, more hopeful time.

Of course, even more catastrophic was the pandemic that hit in 2020. It caused a worldwide shutdown, including conventions. The CAS 2021 took place in a much scaled-down version, but at least it took place. It was still great to attend. Perhaps it was even one of the most fun ones, just because it actually happened despite the pandemic.

Next month CAS returns and I cannot wait. I'll be "On the Beat" as always. reporting back here and for GlobalTravelerUSA.com.

For more info, go to ChicagoAutoShow.com. Also, check back here for updates.

Mitch Trubisky and me in Chicago, IL-February 2018.

Tom Richmond Loves Johngy's Beat

Johngy's Beat Contributor Joey Roth and I interviewed the legendary Tom Richmond of Mad Magazine at C2E2. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Tom Richmond at C2E2 2021.

After the interview, Tom was kind enough to send a shout out to Johngy's Beat. We appreciate it greatly and return the favor by encouraging all to check out TomRichmond.com to see all of the cool work Tom does.

On the Beat With Linda Kay at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling

On Saturday, I trekked to Cedarburg, WI for Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's Golden Days, featuring Terri Runnels. I wrote more about the whole night for Global Women's Sports Radio at Golden Days Was Solid Gold.

One of the highlights for me was an interview I got with Linda Kay, who was the unexpected star of last month's Blizzard Brawl at GLCW. That interview can be found at On the Beat With Linda Kay. Unfortunately, my usual video camera wonked out on me and my backup was not great for audio.

I talked to Linda about her stealing the show at last month's Blizzard Brawl. Ever-humble, Linda said she just had fun. I asked about her future in the ring and she did not rule out more in-ring action. Whether it is wishful thinking or not, to me that means we will eventually see Linda wrestling again. At least I hope so.

On Saturday, Linda was the ring announcer and she did her usual fantastic job pumping up the crowd. At Blizzard Brawl, though, Linda was supposed to be the guest ref in a women's tag match. That plan quickly went away, as Linda ripped off her ref shirt and made it a six-women tag match. Even at that point, I figured Linda would wrestle a bit, and probably get the pin, but only after her tag mates beat the opponents into submission.

I was almost completely wrong. Linda did get the pin, but she earned it. Linda didn't just make a cameo wrestling appearance. She stole the show in the ring. She had moves and holds. She gave a beating and took a bit of a beating, too. In the end, she got the pin on her own as the crowd erupted.

Linda did far more than I expected and she did it extremely well. I am not exaggerating thinking she stole the show. No offense to the other fine wrestlers on the card. They did great, but we expect that from them.

GLCW's next event is Too Cool, featuring Scotty 2 Hotty and Natalya Markova on Saturday, February 26 at Circle B Recreation in Cedarburg, WI. Will Linda be back in the ring wrestling? Will she confront Markova? Check back here for more updates and hopefully a new, better interview with Linda.

Go to GLCWWrestling.com for more info. Also, check here for recurring coverage of GLCW.

Friend Encounters: Sasha Banks and Jim Strong

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

Jim Strong has met a lot of celebrities. We have even met a bunch together. I like seeing Jim's pictures, unless I also wanted to meet the celeb. Such was the case with Mercedes Justine Kaestner-Varnado, better known as Sasha Banks of the WWE.

Actually, the day Jim met Sasha, I was meeting AJ Lee, Aimee Garcia and The Undertaker. It wa a tradeoff, although I still would have liked to meet Banks.

She has held the WWE Women's title four times, the NXT title once and the WWE Women's tag titles twice (with Bayley). That's almost one title for every year she has been in the WWE.

Jim reported that Banks was a lot of fun and in great spirits. The line was naturally very long, but Banks made everyone feel special during their moment with her. That's all you can ever want with any celebrity encounter.

I haven't seen Jim since a night at the Chicago Knockouts Roller Derby.I hope to see my buddy soon and meet some celebs together.

Sasha Banks ad Jim Strong in Chicago, IL-November 2019.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #571 Billy Crystal & Mario Lopez

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series featuring celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today I salute teams ousted from the playoffs last week.

Born in New York, Billy Crystal rose to fame on tv's Soap and Saturday Night Live. He went on to an excellent movie career, including City Slickers, one of my favorites. I don't know the circumstances of him wearing the Dallas Cowboys jersey, but I know he earned a Celebrity Jersey Card for it. The #9 was most notably worn by Tony Romo.

San Diego native Mario Lopez has built quite a career. He was a Saturday morning staple on Saved By the Bell and progressed into hosting and reporting roles on several shows, including his current position on Access Hollywood. For his Celebrity Jersey Card, Lopez and his wife stayed true to his SD roots, donning a Chargers #99 worn most notably by defensive end Raylee Johnson. Unfortunately for Lopez, the Chargers moved back to Los Angeles, staying true to their LA roots.

On the Beat With Erika Piancastelli

On Tuesday, I had the pleasure of interviewing Erika Piancastelli, softball star of the Italian National Team and Athletes Unlimited. Erika is part of RISR, a venture which is about to launch in early March. Erika was kind enough to take time from her busy schedule to discuss all of that with me.

Born in Modena, Italy, Erika's family moved to California when she was five. Softball is in her blood, as her mother Loredana Auletta competed for Italy in the 2000 Olympics.

Erika starred at McNeese State University, where she racked up many awards and accolades. She was the Southland Conference Player of the Year four times. She finished her career there with a .401 batting average, with 75 HRs, 212 RBIs, 70 steals, and an .868 slugging percentage.

In 2020, Erika played in the inaugural season of Athletes Unlimited Softball. Last year, she played for Team Italy in the Tokyo Olympics, followed by her second season with AU Softball. In our interview, she also confirmed she will return for AU Seasons Three and Four!

Our interview started with Erika talking about playing in the Olympics, I know she has been asked about that experience many times, but I don't often get to talk to an Olympian and I had to hear it directly.

I then asked her for her thoughts on the unique scoring system and play of AU Softball. As GWSR readers know, AU utilizes a scoring system where points are awarded for team and individual statistics. Teams are redrafted every week. At the end of the season, one champion is crowned. Erika had nothing but praise for the league, system and players. Obviously, if she is signed for two more seasons, she must enjoy it, but it says a lot to have a softball lifer embrace and endorse groundbreaking setup of AU.

Last and most timely right now, Erika talked about RISR. Launching in early March, RISR is an app connecting the viewer with athletes through training content specifically tailored to meet all levels of players. The four instructors are Erika, Amanda Chidester, Haylie McCleney and Janie Reed. That's an elite quartet, made of four Olympians.

RISR focuses on hitting and mental training. The content is designated for specific ages and levels of players. RISR has individual lessons and specific goal-oriented training programs. RISR will fit perfectly with a player's coach and private instructor.

Next Tuesday, January 25, the RISR Team of Erika, Amanda, Haylie and Janie will present an exclusive Live Mental Training Panel. Subscribe to RISR for access to this unique Zoom opportunity.

Our interview can be found at On the Beat With Erika Piancastelli. I plan on doing more updates with the elite athletes of RISR. Until then, go to RISRapp.com to learn all about this upcoming app.

Terri Runnels at GLCW's Golden Days

Terri Runnels has had a fascinating career in wrestling. She started in World Championship Wrestling as Alexandra York, leader of the York Foundation, a group of wrestlers who used high tech computer info to defeat opponents. She moved to the WWE as Marlena, valet to then-husband Goldust. The cigar-smoking Marlena added a new layer to the intriguing Goldust character. Eventually, Terri assumed her true identity and became a manager for others. The little she-devil even won the Hardcore title once.

Terri has kept a bit of a low profile since leaving wrestling, although she does make appearances at various conventions and events. At the Motor City Comic Con many years ago, Terry started calling me "Jay Leno," a name I heard fairly often those days. This brought frustration to The Honkytonk Man, who was also there and thought he was the first to make that connection. Since then, I have seen Terri many times. She has been kind enough to give me a few interviews, a promo and even wore my shirt.

I will see Terri again Saturday at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's Golden Days in Cedarburg, WI. It will be a great night of wrestling action, featuring Terri in a pre-show meet-and-greet. Will Terri get involved in any of the wrestling action? Will Terri attempt to mix it up with Linda Kay, the unexpected star of last month's Blizzard Brawl? I don't know, but I will find out while I am "On the Beat" there. I will report back here on all the action.

Go to GLCWWrestling.com for more info on Golden Days and other GLCW events. Check back here for my recurring coverage of GLCW.

Terri Runnels and me in Waukesha, WI-December 2012.

Ryan Kross and Jeff Luxon in Waukesha, WI-December 2021

At Blizzard Brawl 2021, I reconnected with Ryan Kross and Jeff Luxon, two veteran wrestlers. Because the pair wrestles in northern Illinois and Wisconsin, I don't see them too often. 

Of course, that is one of the great things about Blizzard Brawl. Saturday, January 22, I should see the pair again at Great Lakes Championship Wrestling's Golden Days, featuring Terri Runnels. Not only do GLCW events have great wrestlers on the card, many wrestlers can be found in the audience. 

Kross and Luxon are scheduled to wrestle at Golden Days, just as they wrestled at Blizzard Brawl. They are a formidable tag team, capable of winning titles whenever they wrestle.

With all due respect to Kross, Luxon and the other fine wrestlers at GLCW, Golden Days is about Terri for me. I have met Terri several times and it is always a lot of fun. I am really looking forward to seeing her again and I thank GLCW for bringing her.

Of course, I am also expecting a great night of wrestling action. Backwoods Brown battles Luscious Lawrence for the GLCW Heavyweight Championship. Mr. Pec-tacular Jessie Godderz defends his OVW Heavyweight title against Joey Avalon. The GLCW Tag Titles are on the line when The Express battles The Fanny Pack Party. Drew Hernandez faces TW3. Also, my bud Kross battles Tony Gunn. Other matches may be added, but even though Luxon isn't scheduled to wrestle, I am quite sure he will be there.

Go to GLCWWrestling.com for all of the info on Golden Days and other events. I will be "On the Beat" there and will report back here and for GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com and WrestlingFigs.com.

Ryan Kross, Jeff Luxon and me in Waukesha, WI-December 2021.

On the Beat With Enerjax

I have seen artist Enerjax at comic cons, but I never had the opportunity to talk to her at length due to the usual chaos of those events. We chatted a bit at C2E2 2021 and I told her I wanted to interview her. Yesterday, I finally had the chance to interview her about her career and art. Our interview can be found at On the Beat With Enerjax.

Enerjax was born in Indiana, but currently resides in the Chicago area. She studied animation and Japanese in college. After college, she actually taught English in Japan. She draws her favorite characters, as well as creating her own.

At comic cons, with literally hundreds of artists displaying their work, it is not easy to stand out. Enerjax and her beautiful art stand out. This is why I wanted to interview her and fortunately she graciously agreed to give me some time via Zoom.

Enerjax talked about how she got started, making a career of art, her style, her favorite characters, and much more. It was such a fun introductory interview. Enerjax has a lot of positive energy (hence her name) and made it very easy. It was just like having a conversation with her.

After you watch the video interview, check out Enerjax on social media and also go to Enerjax.storenvy.com for more info. I hope to get an update interview with Enerjax in the future, either at a comic con or via Zoom. Maybe I'll see her at C2E2 2022, which runs August 5-7.

I encourage everyone to follow her on social media @enerjax. If you see her at a comic con, stop by and check out her art. You'll be as fascinated as I am.

On the Beat With Artist Sergio Santos

Several months ago, I discovered artist Sergio Santos on social media. On Friday, I had the pleasure of going "On the Beat" with Sergio of El Santos World to discuss his art.

Sergio has a unique style. He refers to it as "memorializing and reconstructing" images. That's better than I could have described his style. As you can see in the examples below, the images are completely identifiable, yet are not exact duplications.

This is such a fascinating art form to me. My mind doesn't work that way. I can sketch a fair approximation of an original, but I don't have the creativity to go out of the box the way Sergio does. The letters for the player names isn't precise. Sometimes a letter from the name or even the jersey might be floating above somewhere. When Sergio does it, I love the result. I would struggle with preciseness and not let my imagination roam like Sergio. That type of creativity coupled with his artistic talent makes his work incredible.

Sergio's work isn't limited to recreating trading cards. He has also put other athletes, wrestlers, musicians and more on trading cards. He also does a lot of art not connected to trading cards. It's all beautiful.

Another cool thing Sergio does is post Time-Lapse videos of his work in progress, complete with funky music that fits perfectly. It's not often you get to see the artist in action, but Sergio regularly posts his Time-Lapse creation process.

I talked to Sergio about all of that. He discussed his start in art, his creative process, choosing his subjects and more. We have common interests in pop culture of all sorts.

Pictured below are three of Sergio's creations of WNBA players Chamique Holdsclaw, Sue Bird and Diana Taurasi. It isn't often you see an artist featuring women athletes. Most artists do higher profile male athletes. Sergio does that, too, but he also does women, like these three, along with lesser known male subjects. The fact that Sergio is paying homage to women athletes is a major step in the right direction for women.

I finished the interview by requesting more women and I am sure Sergio will incorporate more into his work going forward. Sergio is very active on social media and he accepts suggestions, like he did with a Rowdy Roddy Piper request of mine. He also does commission, of course, where you buy the actual piece, instead of just enjoying it online.

Our interview can be found at On the Beat With Sergio Santos. Also, check out ElSantosWorld.com for more info and art.

Friend Encounters: Buzz Lightyear and Mad Man Pondo

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

I have previously written several times about Mad Man Pondo. Several years ago at Resistance Pro Wrestling in Chicago, I had the pleasure of working with Pondo. Despite more than 1,000 interviews on my resume, I was intimidated about approaching Pondo, because of his hardcore reputation.

That reputation would prove to be completely accurate inside the ring, but outside of it, Pondo is one of the most laidback, coolest people I have met. In a time of turmoil at Resistance Pro, it was always calming to see Pondo at the events.

Pondo is a pro's pro. He is always willing to help any wrestler, without being pushy. The man has wrestled for 30+ years and has done it all. Although he prefers taking a stop sign to his opponent's head (or his own), Pondo is very capable of technical wrestling. He has an incredible mind for the business, too.

You might look at the picture of him and Buzz Lightyear and think it conflicts with his persona. It really doesn't, but if it did, Pondo wouldn't care. Pnndo does what he enjoys and he pays no mind to others.

I figured Pondo had a ton of great wrestling and non-wrestling stories and that was proven in Memoirs of a Mad Man, a book co-written by our mutual friend John Cosper. That book is awesome. There are so many great, interesting and funny stories (although I bet he hasn't even scratched the surface).

I have read a bunch of wrestling books and this one ranks up with the best. Pondo doesn't need to put himself over. He simply tells stories.

John is the perfect person to help with the book. As a knowledgeable, passionate and respectful wrestling fan, John knows exactly how to get the best stories and how to tell them. There are no stories about Pondo and Buzz Lightyear though. Maybe if there is a More Memoirs of a Mad Man, we can learn about Pondo meeting Buzz and some of the mascots we will see here in the future.

For more info on Memoirs of a Mad Man or any of John's other books, go to EatSleepWrestle.com. I am slowly filling my bookshelves with John's books and they all have been hits so far.

Buzz Lightyear and Mad Man Pondo at Hollywood Studios, FL-February 2020.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #570 David Giraud & Velvet Sky

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series featuring celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I celebrate the two worst teams in the NFL (although I would argue the Chicago Bears belong in this discussion).

A native of Dearborn, Michigan, Matt Giraud sang and played drums all through school. Giraud finished in fifth place on the eighth season of American Idol. Giraud sang the national anthem for the Detroit Lions, earning his Celebrity Jersey Card.He wore the #66, most notably the number offormer  guard Bob Kowalkowski.

Velvet Sky has been featured here many times, thanks to her NFVel posters. She did one for every team and eventually I will get through all of them if I continue this that long. Velvet was a successful wrestler who is currently a color commentator for the NWA. For this Velvet Celebrity Jersey Card, she is wearing a #76 Luke Joeckel jersey. To see the other NFL posters and all of Velvet's other merch, go to RatedV.net.

Cards That Never Were: Merritt Kersey Topps 1976

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).
Merritt Kersey played his college ball at West Chester, before signing with the Philadelphia Eagles before the 1974 season. He played two season with the Eagles, punting 97 times for a 3.5 yard average with no blocks.
For his efforts, Topps gave Kersey a card in the 1975 set, but left him out of the 1976 set. Spike Jones took over for Kersey in the '75 season and got a card in the '76 set. Still, I felt the need to give Kersey a "career capper," especially since I found an action shot of him.

Meeting Mackenzie O'Brien

Last summer, I went to Northbrook Days to see Mackenzie O'Brien perform. I had heard her music, but had not seen her in person and this was the ideal place to see her perform.

I contacted her earlier in the week, asking if I could get a picture with her prior to her show, because I wasn't sure I could stay until the end. She was very gracious. When we arrived, the band was doing sound checks, which gave us a little preview of her show.

When it was done, we approached Mackenzie and she could not have been nicer. Her father soon joined us and we talked for about 20 minutes. Mackenzie has done more than 400 shows all over. She has been to Nashville, but feels she will do better based here for now. 

Mackenzie released "Hummingbird, an EP in 2020. The title is a nod to a nickname she had as a youngster because of her habit of humming tunes. She has an album titled "Stars and Stripes" planned.

We finally let Mackenzie get to her business in time to start her show. She then delighted us and the crowd with a solid set of music. I was already a fan, but I really appreciate her much more now and will continue following her career.

I wrote more about the night for Global Traveler at Northbrook Days. Also, check MackenzieObrien.com for more info and news on this bright, young talented singer.

Mackenzie O'Brien and me in Northbrook, IL-August 2021. 

Happy Birthday, Scott

Today I celebrate the birthday of my brother-in-law Scott. There's less of him to celebrate, but the svelte Scott will celebrate like always.

After so many years of writing this blog, what else can I say about Scott? While I have hundreds of stories about him (some I couldn't write here), sometimes the best approach is a simple one. 

I have known him for more than 35 years. He's been a mentor, friend, brother and more. He's also occasionally my tormentor, but that's part of the fun. I give it back to him (almost) as good.

While I celebrate his birthday from afar, as he is whooping it up in Florida, I also express my appreciation for him. I look forward to many more fun times.

Happy birthday, Pork! Enjoy your day.

Abby, Scott and Sam in Tinley Park, IL-December 2021.

Hornswoggle Appearing at Squared Circle Expo II

The Squared Circle Expo II runs April 15-16 in Indianapolis, IN. After an amazing debut last year, much is expected from SCX II and I have no doubt it will deliver. Just under three months away, it is already shaping up to be bigger and better. I wrote more about it at Squared Circle Expo II Update for the Indiana Patch.

SCX II is a two day wrestling convention featuring meet-and-greets, photo ops, Q&As, panels and more. On Saturday night, there is a full wrestling card.All of this takes place at the Wyndham in Indianapolis. It's a one-stop shop for an awesome wrestling event.

One of the latest additions to the guest lineup is Dylan Postl, perhaps better known as Hornswoggle. I had the pleasure of meeting Swoggle at the last two Blizzard Brawl events. He is quite the character. He's very engaging and funny. He also was selling Life is Short and So Am I: My Life Inside, Outside and Under the Wrestling Ring, his very interesting autobiography. In other words, he is the perfect addition to the lineup.

I have written many times about the quality of SCX guests. I can't remember a better overall collection of guests who enjoy being at a convention and make each encounter special for the attendees.

In addition to Postl, other announced guests include Ted DiBiase, Ricky Steamboat, Lex Luger, Chelsea Green, Matt Cardona, Brian Myers, The Good Brothers, Alan Angels, The Headbangers, The Lucha Bros., FTR, Sammy Guevara, Abadon, Fuego Del Sol, Santana & Ortiz and Ethan Page.

As always, I will be "On the Beat" reporting back here and also on WrestlingFigs.com and GlobalWomensSports.com. For more info, go to the Squared Circle Expo Facebook page.

Hornswoggle and me in Waukesha, WI-December 2021.

On the Beat With John Cosper

Last week, I was “On the Beat” with author friend John Cosper, who has lent his wrestling knowledge here several times. In this interview, we spoke about Dead Park Plaza, his newest fiction book of short stories, as well as Wahoo, his just released autobiography about Wahoo McDaniel. Lastly, and most appropriate to this site, John gave his thoughts on woman wrestlers to watch this year.

We started by discussing Dead Park Plaza, seven short stories of odd occurrences at an office complex. John describes it as “The Office Meets Tales From the Darkside." That's the perfect description. It's a collection of short stories of murder, mayhem and a little mirth in a seemingly mundane office complex. There is nothing mundane about the events, however, or the writing. A bit of quirky humor simply adds to the enjoyment. 

The book is a quick, fun read, either all at once or savored one story per reading. I truly hated to get to the end of Dead Park Plaza, but I found "Executive Dining," the last story, to be the one I liked the most (although all were excellent).

The stories span 30 years at Lead Park Plaza, the four story office complex where all the strange things happen. John tells seven stories in Dead Park Plaza, but here can be (and have to be) many more stories to be told. While reading Dead Park Plaza, I was already hoping there would be a sequel (or several). Fortunately, in our interview, John revealed there is a good possibility for at least one more visit to Dead Park Plaza.

This isn't John's first foray into the world of fiction. He has a few other fiction books, including Charlie Kruel: Escape From VHS Hell, revealing the origin of our favorite purple-haired maniac wrestler. Dead Park Plaza is a winner, as I selected in my Great Reads 2021 list for Global Traveler.

The next topic was Wahoo the autobiography he co-wrote with Karen McDaniel, wife of the legendary wrestler football player. Wahoo lead a life which would have made an interesting fiction novel, but it was reality. John and Karen delve into the wild, crazy and real life of the larger-than-life character. From the wrestling ring to the pro football field and everywhere in between, Wahoo led quite a life and it is presented here in all its glory. Wahoo promises to make my Great Reads 2022 list.

Finally, we got around to discussing women wrestlers to watch this year. John started by mentioning OVW run by former wrestling star Al Snow. Al is really making OVW “must see” programming. Certainly a big part of that is the women's division, run by Maria James, aka Amazing Maria.

John gave his thoughts on several top women fans should watch in 2022. Among those are Haley J, Sierra, Judi-Rae Hendrix, Billie Starkz, Heather Reckless and LuFisto. John had insightful observations on each of these talented women.

Having previously discussed wrestling many times with John, I respect his knowledge and I will be looking out for these women. First up for me is finally seeing Billie Starkz, when she appears at 2econd Wrestling's Flood Zone on March 6 in Northbrook, Illinois.

As always, I really appreciate John's time and thoughts. I appreciate his contributions here and on GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com, Patch.com and GlobalTravelerUSA.com and look forward to more collaborations with him. For more info on John and his books, go to JohnCosper.com and EatSleepWrestle.com. 

Friend Encounters: Kane and John Dean

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

The Squared Circle Expo's debut last April was a major success. One of the first big events post-pandemic, SCE had a guest lineup filled with legendary wrestlers. One of the biggest in size and success had to be Kane (Glenn Jacobs).

Jacobs began his pro wrestling career in 1992, eventually making it to the WWF. He survived being stuck with some bad gimmicks (like fake Diesel and Dr. Isaac Yankem) before becoming Kane, storyline brother to The Undertaker. Even then, nobody would have predicted the Kane character would lead to a Hall of Fame career for Jacobs.

His climb to the top speaks volumes to the work ethic and dedication of Jacobs. Those same qualities helped him in his political career as he is currently the Mayor of Knox County Tennessee.

I had previously met Jacobs, but I wanted to see him again. Timing was not on my side and I missed my opportunity as his line grew quickly and was cut off before I could take my place. At least my buddy John Dean made the cut.

John is a great guy. He's another bud I met through wrestling and comic conventions. The picture is a bit deceiving. Yes Jacobs is really that big. John is about an average height, but Jacobs is just huge. Although he is billed as a seven footer, he is probably around 6'7", which is still towering.

I hope Kane is at the upcoming SCE II. Next time, I will make sure to get my spot in time.

The SCE II runs April 15=16 in Indianapolis, Indiana. For more info, check SquaredCircleX.com and check nack here for updates.

Kane and John Dean in Indianapolis, IN-May 2021. 

Celebrity Jersey Cards #569 Rachael Ellering & Eve Torres

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing jerseys. Today, I feature two women representing teams "wrestling" for playoffs spots.

Minnesota born Rachael Ellering followed her father Paul into wrestling. Paul was the manager of the legendary Road Warriors. I had the pleasure of meeting Rachael when she wrestled for Resistance Pro, where she won a tournament to become the RPro Women's champ. Rachael went on to win Tag Team gold with Jordynne Grace in Impact Wrestling, where she currently is. For her Celebrity Jersey Card, Rachael is wearing a #69 Minnesota Vikings Jersey, most notably worn by Doug Sutherland and Jared Allen. WWE star Brock Lesnar also wore #69 in his tryout with the Vikings.

Born in Boston, MA, Eve Torres became an actress, model, dancer and more, including a stint as a wrestler, where she was the first ever three-time WWE Divas champ. She retired from wrestling in 2013, but remains active in the entertainment world. For her Celebrity Jersey Card, Torres gets extra points for having a football, but loses a point for not showing her number.

Statues Week: Cards That Never Were: Fonzie Statue Topps 1976

Statues Week concludes with Cards That Never Were, a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards for people missed in various sets. It's a concept I borrowed from far too many to list, but I appreciate all of their efforts.

Happy Days debuted January 16, 1974 and ran for 11 seasons. Early in the run, Henry Winkler as "The Fonz" became the breakout star and the show's focus shifted more to him.

In 2008, a life-size statue of Fonzie was unveiled in Milwaukee, home to the television series. The Bronze Fonz is located on the Riverwalk in downtown Milwaukee.

In 1976, Topps released a set of Happy Days trading cards featuring all of the characters. I'm stretching my rules a bit, but I thought Winkler and his bronze likeness deserved to be included in that set.

Statues Week: Mary Tyler Moore in Minneapolis

Statues Week salutes interesting sculptures of famous people or characters.

Born in Brooklyn, NY, Mary Tyler Moore rose to fame on The Dick Van Dyke Show and then The Mary Tyler Moore Show, two classic television sitcoms. On the latter, Moore played Mary Richards, a sigle television news-writer living in Minneapolis. The character was beloved. The opening credits featured a memorable song and ended with Moore tossing her hat in the air in downtown Minny.

TV Land commissioned the Mary Tyler Moore statue, near the site of the iconic shot. The bronze statue was unveiled in 2002. Gwen Gillen sculpted the life-size statue.

Is it a statue of Moore or Richards? The debate rages on. I guess it depends on how you look at it. Either way, it is pretty cool.

Mary Tyler Moore and me in Minneapolis, MN-Summer 2010.

Statues Week: William Hudnut in Indianapolis

Statues Week celebrates the beautiful sculptures of famous people or characters.

William Hudnut III was the 54th mayor of Indianapolis from 1976 to 1992. With four terms served, he was the city's longest-serving mayor. statue 

In 2013, Mayor Greg Ballard announced the creation of Hudnut Commons in downtown Indy. More than $250,000 was raised in private donations to create the Hudnutt statue. Created by artists Jeff Varilla and Ana Koh Varilla of Koh-Varilla Guild of Chicago, it is owned by the Indianapolis Capital Improvement Board. Although it is life-size, Hudnutt joked that it was bigger than him.

I came across the statue of Hudnut while at a convention in Indy. I thought it was cool because it was built with a bench. (No, I did not sit next to it to start a conversation.)

William Hudnut and me in Indianapolis, IN-July 2019.

Statues Week: Stan Mikita in Chicago

Statues Week celebrates the beautiful sculptures honoring various people.

Born in Czechoslovakia, Stan Mikita had a Hall of Fame career with the Chicago Blackhawks. In 22 seasons, Stash played 1,396 games, scoring 541 goals with 926 assists. Mikita retired after the 1979-80 season and was inducted into the Hockey Hall of Fame in 1983.

Mikita's statue sits outside the United Center, along with one of his longtime teammate Bobby Hull. Husband and wife sculptors Omri and Julie Rotblatt Amrany created both statues.The 7-foot-tall statue sits on a five foot granite pedestal. It weighs 1,500 pounds and is made with white bronze with zinc and nickel to give it a silvery look. It also features the Blackhawks' official colors. Mikita's statue was unveiled in October 2011.

I took my picture with the Mikita statue while covering a game at the UC. That explains my tie. My lack of a coat in winter could be because it was unusually warm or I might have left it in the car rather than bring it into the pressbox.

Stan Mikita and me in Chicago, IL-December 2018.

Statues Week: Al McGuire in Milwaukee

Statues Week celebrates beautiful sculptures of famous people or characters.

Al McGuire was a legendary basketball player, coach and announcer. He played 1951-55 in the NBA with the New York Knicks and Washington Bullets. He became an assistant coach at Dartmouth (1955-57)and a coach at Belmont Abbey (1957-64), before becoming the head coach at Marquette (1964-77). He went on to a great career as an announcer.

In 2004, Marquette unveiled the statue of McGuire. Appropriately located inside the main entrance of Al McGuire Center, the silicone bronze statue depicts McGuire in the final moment of Marquette's NCAA Championship. The base is 4.5 feet tall, weighing 1,420 pounds and is engraved with the names of McGuire's former players, coaches and staff. Artist Omri Amrany spent seven months creating this masterpiece.

I got my picture with the McGuire statue while covering Media Day for the Marquette Women's Basketball team. Go to GoMarquette.com for more info on all things Marquette.

Al McGuire and me in Milwaukee, WI-October 2018.

Statues Week: Friend Encounters Edition: Roddy Piper and the Toombs Clan

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities. For Statues Week, it is a Special Friend Encounters Edition with a celebrity statue.

I have written many times about the late Rowdy Roddy Piper. It's hard to believe he has been gone more than six years. I miss my friend and wrestling favorite.

When planning Statues Week, I knew I had to feature RRP, but I have not seen the Piper statue in person. (#bucketlist) I saw his daughter Ariel (Teal) posted a picture of her family with the statue at its unveiling in 2019. I messaged her and she graciously allowed me to use the picture.

It's a beautiful shot of the Toombs clan surrounding the Piper statue. RRP would be proud. I know his family is proud of this statue.

It's unfortunate the statue doesn't have a permanent location. Maybe someday I will make it to a WrestleMania again and I can see the Piper statue in person. Until then, I will enjoy the picture of RRP immortalized with his family proudly around him.

Sarah, Colt, Ariel and Kitty Toombs in Brooklyn, NY-April 2019.

(photo courtesy of Ariel Toombs.)

Statues Week: Celebrity Jersey Cards Ernie Banks & Harry Caray

Today kicks off Statues Week, where I feature celebrity statues. To start the week, I have a Special Edition of Celebrity Jersey Cards featuring statues wearing jerseys.

"Mr. Cub" Ernie Banks certainly earned that title. His statue in inscribed with "Let's play two," but originally, the apostrophe in "let's" was left out. It was quickly fixed by the sculptor though. Unveiled in 2008, it is 7 feet tall on a 4 foot granite base. It now stands outside the front gates at Wrigley Field. Though Banks never played in even a playoff game, his statue wore a Cubs jersey during the 2016 run to the World Series.

The Harry Caray statue is 12 feet tall in white bronze on top of a granite base. The statue names "And a one, and a two... and a three...,"was unveiled in 1999 and stands outside the centerfield gates at Wrigley Field. A Cubs jersey was placed on it during the 2016 Wolrd Series run, giving me a chance to make a Statues Edition Celebrity Jersey Card for it.

Cards That Never Were: Marv Bateman Topps 1973

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).
After playing his college ball at Utah, Marv Bateman was selected by the Dallas Cowboys in the 3rd round of the 1972 NFL draft. After 2+ seasons with the Cowboys, Bateman joined the Buffalo Bills, where he would play through the 1977 season. In his career, Bateman punted 401 times, for a 40.9 yards average with seven blocks.
For his efforts, Topps gave Bateman cards from 1973-1978. I found a cool picture of Bateman in action and was able to create a 1973 horizontal rookie card for Bateman.