Squared Circle Expo II Recap

A couple weeks ago, my buddy Tony Feddeler and I traveled from the Chicago area to Indianapolis, Indiana for the Squared Circle Expo II. Like many others, we were looking forward to this ever since attending the debut of SCX last year. Tony and I agreed, SCX II was even better, as hard as that is to believe.

The promoters of SCX assembled a wrestler lineup of more than 65 wrestling legends and stars. There were wrestlers from the major feds, indy companies and retired Hall of Famers. My only fear was I wouldn't be able to meet all I wanted, but thanks to great communication from the SCX promoters, I was able to plan things properly to meet all.

We had so many great little moments. Velvet Sky recognized me and called my name. Brooke Hogan called Tony and me her bodyguards. I caught up with Sarah Logan, a friend from our days at Resistance Pro Wrestling years ago. We appreciated Chelsea Green's selfie-taking skills.

It seemed like we had special moments with virtually every one. I attribute that to the promoters. I felt last year's wrestler lineup was the most fan-friendly convention lineup I have seen. This year's lineup was even bigger and just as engaging. That's not by accident. That is the promoters knowing who to bring.

The convention ended with a big 10 match wrestling card Saturday night. I expected a solid night of wrestling. I got possibly the best total night I have ever witnessed. Tony agreed, possibly even more favorably. The matches had a little bit of everything, from brawling to technical maneuvers. I won't print the spoiler, but the main event was amazing right up to the aftermath. Two unexpected highlights of the night included promoter Adolfo hitting a textbook spear and promoter Hardcore Heather Owens getting involved as a ref. Of course, promoter Ed was perfect as the heel manager of SCX champ Jake Omen. Other promoter Carrie, did not get involved in the wrestling, but she was a blur of activity all weekend as usual.

For the negative folks, it's usually easy to pick apart a convention to find some flaws. I dare anyone to find a legit weakness in SCX. Long lines? That proves the popularity of guests. Try buying a VIP pass. High Prices? Try again. The prices were reasonable, even lower than most signings. There's no room for negativity. This convention rocked on every level.

Again, I always make the declaration I do not work for SCX. I cover it and promote it because it is the best wrestling convention I have ever attended. I want SCX to succeed and I want everyone to know about it. I have included several pictures, but more can be found in my daily reports on WrestlingFigs.com.

I thank the promoters (Adolfo, Carrie, Ed and Heather) for organizing and running a fantastic event. I thank all the wrestlers there. Last, I thank my buddy Tony for helping me and taking so many pictures.

Along those lines, this just in, SCX returns next April 7-8. I've already marked my calendar. Stay tuned here for updates as they are announced.

Tony Feddeler and me in Indianapolis, IN-April 2022.

Nicole Marie Jean at Motor City Comic Con 2018

Motor City Comic Con returns to Novi, MI May 13-15. I will not be there this year, but MCCC is one of the best comic cons.

When I first started going to comic cons 20 years ago, a few people dressed in costume. Over the years, that number increased dramatically and became known as cosplaying. Now cosplay is such a  big par of comic cons, it often has a separate section at the events. There are even professional cosplayers.

Nicole Jean Marie is one of the first pro cosplayers I ever met. Based in Las Vegas, she is also an artist, sculptor and entertainer. She has traveled all over the world. She has been in contests and has judged contests.

At MCCC 2018. Nicole had one of the most consistently long lines. It seemed everyone wanted to meet her. She was as nice as could be.

Cosplayers dress as characters, famous people or cultural icons. They can also create original costumes. The costumes can be simple or very elaborate. This si all fun, but it is very serious business. It's a lot of fun seeing all of these creative folks. I only wish I would see mor Aquaman representation.

Since then, I have met many more cosplayers, but Nicole remains one of the best. 

For more info on this great cosplayer, go to NicoleMarieJean.com. Go to MotorCityComicCon.com for more info and follow MCCC on Facebook for more frequent updates.

Nicole Marie Jean and me in Novi, MI-May 2018.

On the Beat With Barbara Jordan

Yesterday, I interviewed former softball player, coach and broadcaster Barbara Jordan. As I stated in the interview, ordinarily if I was interviewing softball legend Barbara, I would passionately dive into the world of softball. In this interview, we didn't talk about softball. This interview is perhaps the most serious and important interview I have ever done.

In this interview, Barbara talks about Always Bev, an organization to educated and empower women. Barbara created Always Bev to honor her sister Beverly, who was killed by her fiance. Simply stated Always Bev stands for Being Vigilant, but its meaning, scope and significance goes well beyond that.

Barbara talks about starting Always Bev, what it all means, being vigilant (but not fearful), services Always Bev offers and much more. I could write a lot about Always Bev and our discussion, but I urge you to watch the video. Listen to Barbara's words. See her passion. Take what she is stating to heart. The interview is at On the Beat With Barbara Jordan.

It took a lot of courage for Barbara to take her sister's tragedy and make such a positive impact in the aftermath. The world can be a scary, dangerous place, but with a little extra caution, it can be a much safer place. There are so many distractions and time constraints, but nothing should prevent a few extra seconds for awareness. These moments can be difference-makers and life-savers.

For more information on the wonderful work Always Bev does, go to AlwaysBev.com. Look for Always Bev – The Ripple Effect podcast for more news, tips, education and all things related to safety in every day life.

I have known Barbara for many years through our connection at National Pro Fastpitch. It was always fun seeing Barbara and sharing our love of softball at Bandits Stadium. I respect Barbara for all she accomplished in softball, but my admiration has grown immensely. There were several times I was moved near tears in this interview.

I thank Barbara for her time and consideration. Even more importantly, I thank her for taking action by starting and growing Always Bev.

On the Beat With Shane Winkler

I just had the pleasure of interviewing East Carolina University Head Softball Coach Shane Winkler. It had been a long time sine I last talked to Coach Winkler. Our interview is at On the Beat With Shane Winkler.

I first met Coach Winkler in 2014, when he was managing the National Pro Fastpitch Chicago Bandits. The Bandits finished 30-18 in second place under Winkler.

A standout baseball player at Illinois Central College, Purdue and Butler, Winkler played a couple seasons of minor league ball. Two of his managers in the minors were former major leaguers Buddy Biancalana and Tom Browning.

When his playing career ended, Winkler started coaching. Winkler's first collegiate job came as in 2005 as co-head coach at Danville Area Community College in Danville, Illinois. He started coaching softball while in college in his hometown of Kentland, Indiana. More recently, Winkler coached Charleston Southern for ten seasons, followed by three seasons at George Washington. He is in his first season at East Carolina University.

In our interview, Coach Winkler discussed his path to the Bandits, his coaching style, recruiting and more, including a scouting report on his Pirates team. He also talked a bit about the remaining games and the tough American Athletic Conference.

The ECU Pirates are 19-29 (2-10). As Coach Winkler stated, they are in a bit of a rebuild, but have already surpassed last year's win total of 16. The Pirates have seven more games and then host the AAC Tournament May 12-14. We wish a lot of luck to the Pirates and we'll be following.

I thank Coach Winkler for his time and consideration. Go to ECUPirates.com for more info on East Carolina Athletics.

On the Beat With the Connecticut Sun

On Monday, I attended a Connecticut Sun Zoom press session. Coach Curt Miller and players Natisha Hiedeman, Jordan Lewis and Nia Clouden answered questions on a variety of topics, including the offseason, the draft, expectations for the upcoming season and much more. The press session is at On the Beat With the Connecticut Sun - 04/18/2022.

Last season, the Sun finished 26-6, for the best record in the WNBA. They won the Eastern Conference by a whooping 10 games. Unfortunately, they were ousted from the playoffs by the second place Chicago Sky 2-1 in the SemiFinals. The Sky (12-12 in the regular season) went on to win the WNBA title.

Coach Miller is entering his seventh season at the helm of the Sun. He's only had two losing seasons, his first and the ill-fated, short 2020 season. He has an overall record of 111-76 (.597), but has never guided the Sun to the title. In its 23 years, the Sun have never won the WNBA championship.

With the changing of the guard seen elsewhere in the league (Seattle and Las Vegas as examples), can Miller be on the hot seat? Clearly he is a successful coach, but when a team doesn't win the title, sometimes that isn't good enough. I don't know if another season with no title will mean a coaching change, but there will definitely be conversations about that.

Hiedeman is entering her fourth season. After a bit of a rough start to her career, Hiedeman found a spot wit the Sun midway through her first season. Last season, she set or tied career highs in most categories. Perhaps equally as important was the energy she provided both in game and on the bench. She was also one of the looser, fun players in media sessions. As Hiedeman developed her game, she also seemed much more comfortable and confident. After starting five games last season, I don't expect her to start many more, but I see her minutes increasing a bit.

Rookies Nia Clouden (Michigan State) and Jordan Lewis (Baylor) will compete for time at the guard position with team veterans. The two rookies are joined by nine other rookies.

Right now, the Sun have 11 players listed at the guard position, although a few are guard-forwards. The multi-positional players give Coach Miller flexibility in determining his final roster, but about half of those players will not be on the opening day roster.

With established stars DiJonai Carrington, DeWanna Bonner, Jonquel Jones, Brionna Jones, Beatrice Mompremier, Kaila Charles, Jasmine Thomas and Alyssa Thomas pretty much locks for the team, that leaves only four roster spots. The rookies and a few other veterans will fight for those spots. Of course, injuries and other unforeseen circumstances could change that picture, too.

The Sun start the season in New York to face the Liberty. I am confident the Sun will have another successful season, but will it end with a title? 

Go to WNBA.com for more info on the league. Also, check here for my recurring coverage.

On the Beat With Loyola Softball 04/23/2022

Loyola hosted second place Missouri State and came away with one win. Despite losing the series, it was a solid showing by the Ramblers.

Saturday started ugly for the Ramblers as Andie Broniewicz (3-11) was hit hard, giving up nine runs in 1.1 innings. Loyola's lone RBI was from Amelia Thomas. Despite the final score being 13-3, Loyola was scrappy and did not give up in this game.

The second game was a thrilling 3-2 9 inning win. Ace Peyton Pepkowski (10-8) went all nine innings, allowing one run on six hits, with 13 strike outs. Haley Wallace and Jocelyn Currie had the RBIs. The game-winning run was unearned, but the Ramblers will gladly take it.

After the double header, I talked to Loyola Head Coach Alicia Abbott and Amelia Thomas. I also met Teagan Sopczak during the Home Run Derby. Side note, I did not hit a homer, but I had one nice drive to deep center, but I'll write more about that in the future.

Pepkowski returned to the mound Sunday, but took a loss (10-9). She pitched five innings and only gave up three runs, but Loyola only scored 1, losing 4-1. Sydney Barnett had the lone RBI.

The first game was closer than the score indicated. Loyola had one bad inning. They showed grit in taking the second game. The Ramblers hung tough in Sunday's loss. With just a little more offense, the Ramblers could have taken two of this series.

Loyola is now 13-23 (7-13). They return to action hosting Valparaiso Wednesday.

After the doubleheader, I talked to Coach Abbott and Thomas on the field. The interviews are at On the Beat With Loyola Softball.

Friend Encounters: Meatloaf and Mike & Mia Kerz at Flashback Weekend

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

With Flashback Weekend coming August 5-7, it's the perfect time for this Friend Encounter. This is the perfect picture, too.

Mike and Mia Kerz are the owners/promoters of Flashback Weekend, Chicago's longest running horror convention. The upcoming show is the 20th annual event and I have attended most of them.

Mike and Mia work tirelessly to make Flashback Weekend a great time for all. That work isn't just on the actual weekend. Their work is basically an ongoing thing all year. Having been involved in promoting such events, I can tell attest to how challenging it is. It also is reqarding when it all comes together.

The 2021 event might have been the biggest challenge. With the pandemic still affecting everyone to some degree, Mike and Mia were able to put on a fantastic event.

People think it is a glamorous job, because you get to mix with all the celebrities. The truth is you work with the celebrities. It is definitely still cool, but unfortunately, promoters like Mike and Mia spend little time with the celebs. That's why this picture is great. Mike and Mia actually were able to get a nice picture with Meatloaf.

I'll be "On the Beat" as always at Flashback Weekend. Check here for my recurring coverage.

As a side note, I am friends with Mike and Mia, but not with Meatloaf. I guess two out of three ain't bad.

On another much sadder note, Meat Loaf passed away early this year. I am so grateful to Mike, Mia and Cuzz for the opportunity to meet Meatloaf before he passed.

Go to FlashbackWeekend.com for more info on the upcoming 20th anniversary event. Also, check the Flashback Weekend Facebook page for more frequent updates.

Mike, Meatloaf and Mia in Rosemont, IL-August 2021.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #584 Danielle Lawrie & Rosannagh MacLennan

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue the season-long alphabetical journey through all Major League Baseball teams.

Danielle Lawrie was born in Burnaby, British Columbia and was a star pitcher at the University of Washington. She also pitched professionally for the USSSA Pride. She currently is a broadcaster for Athletes Unlimited, among other endeavors. She appeared with Team Canada in the 2020 Summer Olympics, winning a bronze medal. My interview with Lawrie is at On the Beat With Danielle Lawrie. She was honored by the Toronto Blue Jays and earned extra points for displaying her medal to earn her Celebrity Jersey Card, which also features broadcaster Hazel Mae. On a side note, her brother Brett had a six year MLB career

A native of King, Ontario, Rosannagh "Rosie" MacLennan is the 2013 and 2018 World Trampoline Champion and a 2012 and 2016 Olympic champ. She won gold medals in both the Olympics and many other gold medals at other events. She also competed at the 2020 Summer Olympics. MacLennan earned extra points for wearing her gold medal for her first pitch, earning her a Celebrity Jersey Card (not quite as impressive as the medals, but still an achievement) 

On the Beat With Heather Furr

I first met Heather Furr at a sports convention in 2013. Heather was with a few teammates promoting the Chicago Bliss, a women's pro football team. I interviewed Heather, the first of many I would get with her over the next few years.

The quarterback and a defensive back, Heather was the heart and soul of  the Bliss. Nicknamed “The Rock Star,” Heather always brought swagger, whether she wore a cape for pre-game introductions, chugged a beer after a touchdown or in the face of bigger opponents. Don't let that showmanship fool you though. Heather was completely focused on winning.

Heather was one of the fiercest competitors I have ever seen. Like all truly elite athletes, she had the will to win. The Bliss and Heather never got the respect they deserved around the league. Heather might not have had the strongest arm of the quarterbacks, but her overall skill set combined with her drive made her the best quarterback. No QB brought more to the field than Heather.

During her time with the Bliss, Heather was part of the cast of Pretty. Strong., a reality show featuring the Bliss. She also competed on the Steve Austin Broken Skull Challenge show. Fast forward several years, Heather is now a married mom of a beautiful little rock star and the Director of Residential Sales at McCann Properties.

When Tommy Else and I were discussing potential guests for The Johngy “Or Else” Podcast, I immediately thought of Heather. Having been to a few Bliss games, practices and events, Tommy was familiar with Heather and the team. When I reached out to Heather, she graciously agreed to join us for a fun chat.

We talked about all of the above. We shared several laughs and relived a few fun moments.

It was great seeing Heather again. It was even better seeing her happy and doing well. I have no doubt she will be a success in real estate.

One thing that stood out to me near the end of the interview was typical Heather. We, of course, told her she could promote her real estate business. Heather gave her info, but quickly added she would gladly help anyone with real estate questions or issues, even if it did not lead to business together. There's Heather, the ultimate teammate. When you have a superstar, who is willing to put others first, you have a real winner. Heather is a real winner.

It was a lot of fun catching up with Heather. Above all, I am glad I got the chance to publicly thank her for many good times and interviews over the years. It was really wonderful for me to have that time with Heather yesterday. I hope Heather knows how much I appreciate and respect her for everything.

Tommy and I thank Heather for her time and consideration in our interview. We encourage anyone with any real estate needs to check out Heather online. Check out our interview at On the Beat With Heather Furr.

On the Beat (Again) With Chris Bournea

Last week, Tommy Else and I interviewed film maker Chris Bournea for The Johngy OR Else podcast and Global Women's Sports Radio. At the time, we had not yet seen Lady Wrestler, the documentary Chris made about African American pioneer wrestlers. After watching Lady Wrestler, Tommy and I had a few new questions we wanted to ask Chris and he graciously agreed to a second interview. The new interview is at On the Beat With Chris Bournea.

Produced, directed and narrated by Chris, Lady Wrestler tells the stories of African American women such as Babs Wingo, Marva Scott, Ethel Johnson, Ramona Isbell and many others who dealt with sexism, racism and other obstacles while carving out lives inside the wrestling ring. Not only did these women battle for their place in the male-dominated world of pro wrestling, many did it while raising a family, making their journeys even more impressive.

I still will not include spoilers, but I will gladly state Tommy and I thoroughly enjoyed Lady Wrestler. It was well-produced and edited. The historical footage was really cool. The interviews with the women or their relatives was fascinating, especially seeing the ladies so positive. Tommy referred to them as having infectious personalities and that is totally accurate.

Lady Wrestler succeeds on so many levels. It's a piece of wrestling history, as well as exploring an important time in race relations and the women's movement. Even beyond all of that, it is simply an interesting film.

We thank Chris for his time and encourage everyone to check out Lady Wrestler on Amazon. Go to LadyWrestlerMovie.com and ChrisBournea.com for more info.

On the Beat With John Cosper

Fresh of the recent release of The Shops at Dead Park, John Cosper was kind enough to give me his time for another interview. Our interview is at On the Beat With John Cosper.

We started by discussing The Shops at Dead Park. When I read Dead Park Plaza, his previous book, I interviewed John and asked about a sequel or expansion of the Dead Park concept. When I saw The Shops at Dead Park released, I couldn't wait to get it and it did not disappoint.

While Dead Park Plaza has tales from the office building, The Shops at Dead Park takes that concept and brings it to the mall. It was a cool way to continue the series, while breathing fresh life into it. I hadn't thought of this idea, but that's why John is the author.

The Shops at Dead Park is every bit as entertaining and horrific as its predecessor. John again brings a bit of quirky humor, but not too much to overpower the horror. I will not give away any of the plots, but I enjoyed each story.

From there, John updated me on the latest Girl Fight Wrestling event. John talked about all of the talented ladies, like Skye Blue, Mickie Knuckles and the others, with a few Mad Man Pondo and Princess Victoria stories, too.

Lastly, we talked a bit about women in the WWE, TNA, Impact and more. I love picking John's mind. Having recently seen and interviewed Skye Blue, I can state John was completely accurate in his praise for her. She is the real deal.

I greatly appreciate John's time, knowledge and consideration in these interviews. I look forward to more in the future.

Go to EatSleepWrestle.com for all of John's books. He's got several fiction books and many wrestling autobiographies. My book shelf is quickly filling with John's books and I highly recommend all of them.

Happy Birthday Jean!

Today, I celebrate the birthday of the middle sibling in my family. Jean is one of the two best sisters in the world.

I love the picture below. Jean and her beautiful family always make me smile. It's not just them though. They always make me feel part of it all. Whether it is outings, Wordle or so many other things, Jean always makes me feel included.

It's an amazing feeling knowing my sisters always have my back. I really would be lost without them.

Jean will probably be celebrating her special day with her family or friends. Soon though, we will have our sibling lunch.

Happy birthday, Jean! I hope it's great!

Scott, Jean, Erin, Theo Sam, Delaney and Matt in Florida-February 2021.

On the Beat With Morgan Howe

Yesterday, I interviewed softball player Morgan Howe for Global Women's Sports Radio. We had a lot of fun in the interview, but we also covered a serious topic. The interview is at On the Beat With Morgan Howe.

Morgan started her collegiate career at Fresno State, but transferred to Arizona State after two years. During her college seasons, Morgan racked up a slew of awards and accolades, including a 2017 All-Mountain West First Team selection, a 2019 All-Pac-12 First Team selection and more.

After college, Morgan played in the first two seasons of Athletes Unlimited Softball. Morgan talked about adapting to the unique structure and scoring system of the league. She gave a quick summary of the basic weekly schedule fo the league.

With the league based in Rosemont, just west of Chicago, I asked Morgan about sightseeing and food in Chicago. When she talked about pizza, she named one of Chicago's best (and one of my favorites).

Then the conversation turned serious as Morgan talked about the Step Up For Mental Health organization. In AU Softball, players pick a charity to benefit from their play, one of the very special parts of AU softball. Morgan was open about some of her challenges. 

Step Up For Mental Health's mission statement is “To educate, fight causes and change minds about mental health and its impact on families.” Services include helpline support, programs, peer support, classes, webinars, podcasts and more.

The interview ended with Morgan playing for Women's Pro Fastpitch, a new pro softball league starting soon. This season will be filled with exhibition games, but it gives softball players more opportunities and options.

I really appreciate Morgan's time in this interview. I wish her luck in her upcoming season.

Friend Encounters: Buzz Beaver and Don Martukovich

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

Today's feature is a shocker. Don Martukovich is a huge softball fan and is usually pictured here with Pro and college softball players. Here though, Don is pictured with a hockey mascot.

The Cleveland Lumberjacks were a team in the International Hockey League from 1992-2001. The team disbanded when the IHL ceased operations.

Don met Buzz, the Beaver mascot, at a Cleveland Lumberjacks throwback weekend in 2020. I knew Don loved softball, but look at the joy on his face here. I love this pic. It is pure fun. Who would have thought softball Don would trade his softball jersey for a hockey sweater, even if only temporarily?!

Don is a great guy. I absolutely love all of the pictures he posts on social media. He has also helped me many times with identifying players in pictures I took. I really appreciate Don's photographic work, his keen eye with identification and mostly his kindness over the years.

 Buzz and Don Martukovich in Cleveland, OH-January 2020.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #583 Elton John & Jack Ingram

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue the season-long alphabetical journey through all Major League Baseball teams.

Reginal Kenneth Dwight rose to Hall of Fame status as Elton John. Now theoretically on a Retirement Tour, John has been performing for more than 50 years. John earned his Celebrity Jersey Card by performing the National Anthem for the Houston Astros. Naturally, he wore the colorful rainbow jersey, too. Would you expect anything less from the man who oozes flair?

Although not as accomplished as Elton John, Jack Ingram has had an outstanding musical career, too. From The Woodlands near Houston Texas, Ingram has had seven top forty singles on the country charts. At the Academy of Country Music event, he was awarded Top New Male Vocalist and Song of the Year (with Miranda Lambert and Jon Randall), among other accolades. Ingram performed the National Anthem for the Astros to get his Celebrity Jersey Card.

On the Beat With Carrie Walters

Yesterday, I interviewed Carrie Walters, owner of the Las Vegas Silver Stars on Global Women's Sports Radio. Very few sports team owners have pro playing backgrounds. Carrie isn't your average sports team owner though. As owner of the Silver Stars, Carrie continues to defy the odds.

The Silver Stars play in the Women's National Football Conference, a professional  women's tackle football team. The WNFC debuted in 2018 and now stands at 17 teams, playing a six-game season.

Not only is Carrie the owner of the Silver Stars, she is part of the roster. A player with 16 years of experience on the field, Carrie still dons the #29 jersey and makes an impact on the field.

Carrie tells the interesting and funny story of how she came to own the Silver Stars. She also talked about her playing career, coaching in the future, the challenges of playing in Las Vegas, the dedication of the players and more, including a scouting report on the Silver Stars.

In the interview, Carrie's passion and dedication are plainly evident. To play in the WNFC, you really need both. These women practice multiple times a week for months to be ready to play.

What you can't see in the video is Carrie's playing ability. Carrie and the other women of the WNFC are elite athletes playing a top level of football. Anyone who has seen them in person or on the Vyre Network sees high quality playt.

I really enjoyed talking to Carrie and I appreciate her time. Last week when I interviewed WNFC CEO Odessa Jenkins, I jokingly complained there was no Chicago team. After talking to Carrie, I have adopted the Silver Stars as my home team away from home.

For more info on the league, go to WNFCFootball.com. Also, check LVSilverStars.com for info on Carrie and her team. Come back here for recurring coverage of the WNFC. Our interview can be found at On the Beat With Carrie Walters.

Larissa Paige at Wizard World 2021

I loved Child's Play. Chucky is a classic horror icon. I must say, Chucky never looked better than last year at Wizard World Chicago.

Chucky was actually cosplayer Larissa Paige. From Salt Lake City, UT, Paige has won several awards for her cosplay. Paige is known for many gender-bending cosplays, such as Chucky. She also takes established characters and puts her creative spin on them, as well as creating original characters. Paige is a topnotch coplayer.

At Wizard World 2021, Paige was one of the most popular celebrity guests and she worked hard to make it fun for all. Every day, she had a new cosplay costume.

That was the last year for Wizard World, because Fan Expo bought the convention. The Wizard World spirit will now lie through Fan Expo conventions, which is great news for all.

I expect Fan Expo Chicago to be big. as the debut event, it has to wow fans. Several celebrities have already confirmed for Fan Expo Chicago, including Sean Astin, Brian O'Halloran, Elijah Wood, Kevin Smith, Jason Mewes and more. Fan Expo hits Chicago July 7-10. I'll be "On the Beat" enjoying a great convention.

Go to Larissa Paige on Instagram for more of Larissa's cosplay fun. Also check FanExpoHQ.com for news and updates on all of the Fan Expo events.

Larissa Paige and me in Rosemont, IL-October 2021.

On the Beat With Loyola WBB Head Coach Allison Guth

A few days ago, on Global Women's Sports Radio, I wrote about Loyola hiring Allison Guth as their new Head Coach of Women's basketball. This morning I attended her introductory press conference.

This was unlike any press session I have attended. As I sat in the media area of the practice facility, I saw the room fill with one large group, which included several youngsters. I learned this was Coach Guth's family. Especially with the children, it created a lively atmosphere.

Upon her introduction, Coach Guth explained she comes from a large family, many of whom were in attendance. Coach Guth then went on to liken that family bond to creating a family situation on the women's basketball team and Loyola in general.

Coach Guth discussed the significance of returning to Loyola. She cited a fun story of her drive today in the car she borrowed from her dad. It brought back memories of her youth with her dad driving her to practice. In just a few minutes, it was very clear how important family is to Coach Guth. It was heartwarming to say the least.

She continued with talk to Loyola moving to the Atlantic 10. It's a fresh start for Loyola and it brings new challenges and opportunities.

I briefly talked to Coach Guth after the session. She spoke of being surrounded by her family, meeting the tam and the challenges ahead of her. Ever the positive person, Coach Guth again eschewed calling them challenges, preferring to look at all as opportunities.

I was very impressed by Coach Guth. Her record speaks for itself, but this was a glimpse into the person. She is fun, engaging, optimistic and rooted in family. Combined with her history, she is all you want in a coach.

Loyola's season only recently ended, but Rambler Nation is ready for next season. I am quite sure Coach Guth is already working on it.

The interview is at On the Beat With Allison Guth. Check back here for my recurring coverage.

On the Beat With Chris Bournea

I was joined by Global Women's Sports Radio Contributor Tommy Else for an interview with film maker Chris Bournea to discuss “Lady Wrestler: The Amazing, Untold Story of African American Women in the Ring.” The documentary details the fascinating stories of African American women wrestlers in the 1950s, '60s and '70s.

Produced, directed and narrated by Chris, “Lady Wrestlers” tells the stories of African American women such as Babs Wingo, Marva Scott, Ethel Johnson, Ramona Isbell and many others who dealt with sexism, racism and other obstacles while carving out lives inside the wrestling ring. Not only did these women battle for their place in the male-dominated world of pro wrestling, many did it while raising a family, making their journeys even more impressive.

“Lady Wrestler” makes an impact in several fields. Their stories are part of wrestling history often untold and forgotten. On a larger scale, they are a part of African American history. Theirs are stories of equality of the sexes and races.

These women are trailblazers and pioneers. They paved the way for future wrestling stars from Jacqueline and Dark Journey to Sasha Banks and Bianca Belair. Their impact isn't just on the African American wrestlers though. Their dedication kept women's wrestling alive and made it that much easier for all women who followed.

Chris talked about the origins of “Lady Wrestler,” reactions from the ladies involved and the wrestling community, the adversity the women had to endure, future projects and more. Tommy and I hadn't seen “Lady Wrestler” yet,  but the good news is Chris has agreed to return for an update and to answer our questions after we watch it, which will happen very soon.

Wrestling wasn't always the glitz and glamour it is now. These women had a big role in the progression of women's wrestling and we greatly appreciate Chris discussing “Lady Wrestler” with us.

The interview is at On the Beat With Chris Bornea. For more info on Chris and this documentary, go to LadyWrestlerMovie.com and ChrisBournea.com. Check back here for our update interview with Chris coming soon.

On the Beat With Mike Pankow of Windy City Slam

I enjoy interviewing folks from all fields. It is even better when I get to interview a friend and talk wrestling. Such was the case when I interviewed longtime friend and journalist Mike Pankow of Windy City Slam. Our interview is at On the Beat With Mike Pankow.

Mike has been a professional journalist for more than two decades and a wrestling fan even longer. Combining his passions, Mike created Windy City Slam, a website “going inside pro wrestling from the Chicago scene to around the world.”

Mike isn't an armchair journalist either. There's a good chance you will see him at a Chicago area independent wrestling show almost every weekend. Whether he is shooting pictures, doing interviews, lining up guests for his podcast, writing a recap or sometimes simply enjoying the action, Mike is a fixture on the wrestling scene.

We started with Mike giving his thoughts on the WWE Women's Royal Rumble, as well as the women's matches at WrestleMania. That led to Mike's thoughts on underrated or underutilized women wrestlers in the big companies. We then moved to the independent scene, with Mike picking some of his favorites and also some underrated ladies, too. I put Mike on the hot seat and asked for his Mount Rushmore of big and small wrestling companies and he delivered as expected. Mike finished by briefly discussing the indy companies he covers.

That was a lot of territory to cover in a relatively short time. Ever the pro, Mike was concise, while still giving thoughtful and thorough answers. It's the same approach Mike takes with Windy City Slam.

Thank you to Mike for his time and insight. I encourage everyone to check out Mike's work on WindyCitySlam.com. Also, check out his podcast section. He has some great names from all over the world of wrestling.

Friend Encounters: Duke Droese and Troy Babbs

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

Today, I feature Troy Babbs, who I met years ago at a horror convention. Since then, I have seen him many times at other cons and he has even joined the Johngy's Beat crew for a few. It's always great seeing Troy, whether he's assisting me or just hanging out.

Until recently, I would have been envious of this picture. Troy met former WWF wrestler Duke "The Dumpster" Droese. Fortunately for me, I had the pleasure of meeting Droese at the Squared Circle Expo in May. I also reconnected with Troy, whom I hadn't seen since the pandemic.

Droese started wrestling in 1990 and wrestled with the WWF '94-'96. After leaving the WWF, he wrestled in smaller companies, but made a few return appearances with the WWE.

In the period when the WWF was full of job characters, Droese was saddled with a garbageman character, but he embraced it and had a nice run with the company. He didn't win any titles, but he was pretty popular for a while. He also was ranked No. 130 o the top 500 singles wrestlers  in the PWI 500 in 1995.

At the Squared Circle Expo, Droese brought his trademark garbage can, which worked great in pictures. I wonder if he brings the can with him for his appearances or if he gets one in each city.

Although I finally got to meet Droese, thus losing my envy over this picture, it's still a great one. Troy still gets to say he met him first.

The Squared Circle Expo was loaded with great wrestlers of the past and present. The SCX 2022 is this Friday and Saturday, 4/15-16. Go to SquaredCircleX.com for more info and updates. Also follow here for my recurring coverage of the SCX.

Troy Babbs and Duke Droese in Fort Wayne, IN-October 2018.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #582 Sabrina Sloan & Julia Harriman

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, I continue the season-long alphabetical journey through all Major League Baseball teams.

Born in Mission Viejo, California, Sabrina Sloan has carved out a solid career on stage and in films. One of her performances was in Hamilton, which also featured Julia Harriman, a singer, actress, song writer from Los Angeles. During their run in Hamilton, they sang the National Anthem for the Oakland A's.

On the Beat With Odessa Jenkins

While most Chicagoans are thinking about baseball today, my mind was on football, specifically women's football. That's because I had the pleasure of talking football with Odessa Jenkins, CEO of the Women's National Football Conference for an interview on Global Women's Sports Radio.

The WNFC, a women's tackle football league, debuted in 2019. Quickly becoming one of the fastest-growing brands in the country, the WNFC has been featured on many major sports outlets and currently is televised on the Vyre Network.

With her football-playing background, Odessa knew what it takes on the field and she proved she knew what it takes off the field, too, as she lined up sponsorships and partnerships, the lifeblood of any successful organization, especially a new football league.

Odessa talked to me about the start of WNFC, milestones, sponsorships, goals and more. She was even a great sport when I “complained” there is no Chicago team, but I loved her response. As much as I would love a team in my hometown, I would rather be patient and wait for a well-backed team that will succeed and stay here.

My biggest takeaways from the interview are her passion and mindset. Clearly any CEO wants their organization to be profitable,  but I think Odessa sees that as part of the puzzle and not the whole objective. If you have passion to build a solid foundation, the profit will follow. 

As for her mindset, I see a lot of companies in all sports start with a lot of fanfare, only to fade away quietly. It would be easy to start teams everywhere, especially in Chicago. Delaying that start until the right situation develops is the best way to build the team and the league.

The 2022 season started last weekend and runs eight weeks through May 21. Each of the 17 teams plays a six game schedule over those eight weeks. The Conference Playoff Tournaments run 6/9-6/11, with the IX Cup Championship Weekend on 6/24-26.

Jenkins closed by saying an announcement is coming in the future. While she did not give me any scoops on it, she did promise to return to GWSR with the story once it is announced.

For more info on the WNFC, go to WNFCFootball.com and follow the league on social media. Also, check back here for our updates. Our interview is at On the Beat With Odessa Jenkins.

Thank you to Odessa for her time and consideration. We'll be looking forward to future conversations.

Happy Birthday Nancy!

Today I celebrate the birthday of my eldest sister. Although she eschews the title, she is the matriarch of our family.

I found this picture of Nancy horsing around last summer. My questions is, does Sully, her ever-faithful Brittany Spaniel know Nancy was playing nice with other animals while poor Sully was left behind? Poor, poor Sully. Poor, sad, lonely, heartbroken Sully. Don't feel too bad, Sully, I wasn't there either.

Actually, Sully is one lucky pup. Nancy is a great dog mom, as well as an awesome sister. I'd say she is the best sister ever, but I am lucky enough to have two great sisters. The two best sisters ever.

Don't worry, Nanc, I am sure Sully would understand you spending time with these horses. He's a very unselfish pup. You raised him well.

We three siblings shall celebrate birthdays together soon. Until then, happy birthday from across the internet.

Nancy and her equine friends in Valparaiso, IN-July 2021.

Sarah Logan at Squared Circle Expo

I met Sarah Logan about eight years ago at Resistance Pro Wrestling. Then, she was known as Crazy Mary Dobson. She eventually became RPro Women's champ.

Sarah was great in the ring, in the locker room, with the fans and with the crew. You could tell she had a bright future in wrestling. She was young and talented beyond her years.

Soon the WWE came calling. Sarah left RPro as the champ and jumped to the big stage of the WWE. We were all so proud and happy for her.

Her promising start and path in the WWE was derailed during the pandemic, when the WWE released her. We all assumed it was a temporary thing and she would be back.

While away, Sarah went on to other endeavors. She started an internet video series with her husband Erik, who is still with the WWE. They had a baby and seem to be living a happy life. Sarah returned to the WWE for the Women's Royal Rumble earlier this year, but that was a one time thing, at least so far.

As much as her fans would love to see Sarah return, we all support her decision and applaud her happiness. It's great seeing a young woman knowing what she wants and living her life as she wants.

I was so excited when I saw Sarah announced for the Squared Circle Expo II. I really look forward to seeing Sarah again.

The excitement keeps building as the promoters announce new wrestling guests. The lineup is huge and legendary. In addition to Sarah, that list includes Velvet Sky, Angelina Love, Scarlett Bordeaux, Deonna Purrazzo, Britt Baker, Adam Cole, Danhausen, Heath, Rhyno, James Storm, Brooke Hogan, Miranda Gordy, Jeff Jarrett, Alicia Atout, John Morrison, Shane Douglas, Mickie James, Ricky "The Dragon" Steamboat, Scarlett Bordeaux, John Bradshaw Layfield, Ron Simmons, Ted DiBiase, New Age Outlaws (Road Dogg and Billy Gunn), Rikishi, Lex Luger, Carlito, Matt Cardona, Hangman Adam Page, Brody King, Brian Cage, Swoggle, Santana and Ortiz, Sammy Guevara, Primo and Epico, FTR (Cash Wheeler and Dax Harwood), the Good Brothers, Dalton Castle, Ethan Page, Chelsea Green, Fuego Del Sol, Brian Myers, Sharkboy, the Steiner Brothers, the Varsity Blondes (Brian Pillman, Jr. and Griff Garrison), Larry D, Crazzy Steve and Wolfie D. With about seven weeks until the event, I am betting they still aren't done adding wrestlers to the lineup.

This list has a little of everything. There are Hall of Famers and current stars. All major companies are represented, as well as some great indy stars.

A convention for the wrestling fans, run by dedicated folks, SCX was the best convention debut I have attended and SCX II promises to top it. SCX II is a two day convention running April 15-16 at the Wyndham Indianapolis West. There will be photo ops, meet-and-greets, panels, Q&As, vendors and more, including a full wrestling card on Saturday night.

Tickets are still available at SquaredCircleX.com. I will be "On the Beat" there all weekend. I can't wait to meet the wrestling stars, reconnect with friends, watch some interesting matches and buy cool stuff. I hope to see you there.

Sarah Logan and me in Summit, IL-March 2015.

On the Beat With Loyola SB

After the inclement weather pushed back the Loyola series against Evansville, Loyola bats remained cold. 

On Sunday, the Ramblers dropped a doubleheader, 4-2 and 4-0. Peyton Pepkowski (6-7) took the loss in game one and Andie Broniewicz (2-8) lost the second game. Abbey Jacobsen's home run in the first game drove in the only two runs of the day. Two solid pitching performances were wasted with an offense that produced only five hits all day.

The Ramblers finished the series in thrilling fashion. Maddie Ebeling belted a two-out, two-strike walkoff home run in the seventh to give the Ramblers a 4-3 win. Pepkpwoski went the distance, improving to 7-7, giving up two earned runs on eight hits and no walks, with seven strike outs. Nova Sinskul and Hannah Nalley had the other two RBIs.

This was a gritty win for Pepkowski and the team. Evansville tied it in the top of the seventh. It was very cold and the Ramblers didn't look good the previous day. None of that matter as Ebeling laced the home run to left field. This is the type of win that can turn around a season.

Loyola now stands at 9-18 (3-6 in conference play). The Ramblers return to action with a three game series at Northern Iowa.

The interviews can be found at On the Beat With Loyola Softball 04/04/22. Go to LoyolaRamblers.com for more info and check here for more coverage.

Cards That Never Were: WWE Topps 1985 Football Style

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 others to list, but I appreciate all of their effort. Some of my creations and a lot from others can be found in the Custom Baseball Cards group on Facebook.

The group is not limited to baseball cards. It also isn't limited to actual sets. Such is the case when I started creating wrestling cards using the 1985 Topps football card format.

The 1985 Topps football set is one of my favorites. It is simple and easy to recreate. I did learn a bit in creating the wrestling cards in that style. The little box that contained the first names was not centered nor consistent. I have no idea how Topps decided where to put the box, but I centered it (ever a fan of consistency). 

Also, the big letters from the last names lacked a bit of consistency. They were usually the same on any card, although "M" and "N' often were thinner than other letters. Sometimes the letters were thicker than other times, despite having the same number of letters.

These inconsistencies might not bother others, but they drive me crazy, probably too much so.

In any case, I did my best to make WWE wrestling cards using this format, while maintaining a level of consistency with the letters, spacing and alignment.

All of my wrestling creations can be found at Wrestling Topps 1985 Football style album. A few of them are below.

Friend Encounters: Mark Henry and John Dean

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

Now there's a tag team! The World's Strongest Man Mark Henry and my pal John Dean look like they could do some damage in a wrestling ring. I need to think of a good team name for them.

Henry was a legit strong man before embarking on a successful pro wrestling career. He appeared at the 1996, becoming the largest athlete ever in the Olympics. He also competed in many international events and holds (or held) many weightlifting records.

He eventually moved onto pro wrestling, where he held multiple titles in the WWE. He currently works for All Elite Wrestling.

My bud John met Henry at the George Tragos/Lou Thesz Hall of Fame weekend at the Dan Gable Wrestling Museum. A big fan of wrestling and comic cons, I have met John at many such events. It's always great to see John there. He's one of my convention pals, who has become a good friend over the years.

I guess I could call the team "The World's Strongest Team," but that seems too easy. I'll keep thinking about it.

 Mark Henry and John Dean in Waterloo, IA-July 2021.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #581 Dave Koz & Brittany Fisheli

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly series in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. Today, the Los Angeles Angels start our season-long alphabetical journey through all Major League Baseball teams.

Born in Encino, California, Dave Koz grew up to be a legendary smooth jazz saxophonist. Koz has done it all. He was a session musician before going on his own. He has done radio and also opened his own restaurant. In 2004, Koz came out publicly as gay. Koz earned his Celebrity Jersey Card after performing the National Anthem for the Angels.

Singer and actress Brittany Fisheli was born in Los Angeles, California. She appeared in the horror anthology The Dark Tapes. The young lady is still in the early stages of her career, but in baseball terms, she is a rising prospect. Fisheli earned her Celebrity Jersey Card singing the National Anthem for the Angels.

Pinfalls: WWE WrestleMania 2022

Pinfalls is back and this time, Global Women's Sports Radio Contributor Tommy Else and I dive into WrestleMania. With so many matches, we decided to analyze and predict five matches and two segments. In our video, we cover both women's title matches, the women's tag match, the men's title versus title match and Edge versus AJ Styles, along with looking at the possibilities of the Kevin Owens-Stone Cold Steve Austin segment and who might face Seth Rollins.

WrestleMania 38 takes place on Saturday and Sunday, April 2-3 from AT&T Stadium in Arlington, Texas. The Peacock Network coverage starts at 7 PM CST both days.

Year to date, Tommy and I are both 7-11 on predictions. Lifetime, I am 45-20, while Tommy is 16-18. Other GWSR analysts include Candace Cordelia (20-13), Adam Barnard (4-3) and Joey Roth (3-4). 

SmackDown Women’s Championship Match

Charlotte Flair (c) vs. Ronda Rousey (Tommy-Flair, Johngy-Rousey)

Raw Women’s Championship Match 

Becky Lynch (c) vs. Bianca Belair (Tommy and Johngy-Belair)

Women’s Tag Team Championship Match

Queen Zelina & Carmella (c) vs. Sasha Banks & Naomi vs. Rhea Ripley & Liv Morgan vs. Natalya & Shayna Baszler (Tommy and Johngy-Ripley and Morgan)

WWE Champion vs. Universal Champion Winner Take All Championship Unification Match

WWE Champion Brock Lesnar vs. Universal Champion Roman Reigns (Tommy and Johngy-Lesnar)

Edge vs. AJ Styles (Tommy-Edge, Johngy-Styles)

Bobby Lashley vs. Omos (Tommy-Lashley, Johngy-Omos)

Seth Rollins to face an opponent of Mr. McMahon's choosing (Tommy and Johngy-Cody Rhodes or Shane McMahon)

"The KO Show"

"Stone Cold" Steve Austin to confront Kevin Owens (Stunners for all)

Rey & Dominik Mysterio vs. The Miz & Logan Paul (Tommy-Mysterios, Johngy-Miz & Paul)

Drew McIntyre vs. Happy Corbin (Tommy and Johngy-McIntyre)

SmackDown Tag Team Championship Match

The Usos (c) vs. Shinsuke Nakamura & Rick Boogs (Tommy and Johngy-The Usos)

King Woods & Kofi Kingston vs. Sheamus & Ridge Holland (Tommy and Johngy-Woods & Kingston)

Johnny Knoxville vs. Sami Zayn (Tommy-Knoxville, Johngy-Zayn)

Raw Tag Team Championship Match

RK-Bro (c) vs. The Street Profits vs. Alpha Academy (Tommy and Johngy-The Alpha Academy)

Pat McAfee vs. Austin Theory (Tommy and Johngy-Theory)

Make your picks and see if you can beat us. Feel free to post your thoughts on our social media pages.

Look for our recap Monday, along with the Weekly Women's Wrestling Wrecap. Enjoy the show!

Check for the video at Pinfalls: WWE WrestleMania 2022. Go to GlobalWomensSportsRadio.com for full coverage.

Billie Starkz at Squared Circle Expo

Just two weeks away, the Square Circle Expo II is fast approaching. SCX II takes over the Wyndham Indianapolis April 15-16 and I cannot wait.

As I have written many times, SCX 2021 was a fantastic event. It was the best debut convention and one of the best overall I have ever seen. From the first online communication to the end of Saturday night, the staff worked tirelessly to make it a fun, organized event. Things could not have been any smoother, especially since it was during a rough patch in the pandemic.

One of the wrestlers I met for the first time there was Billie Starkz. The blue-haired youngster is only 17, but already has a few years experience on her resume. She started training at 14 and has quickly become one of the best young wrestlers. She has held the Girl Fight Wrestling and the Party Hard Wrestling Party Monster titles once each. More championships are sure to follow.

In a room full of wrestling stars and legends, Billie stood out and not just because of her blue hair. She is a ball of energy. Her passion for the sport is palpable. I imagine she was picking the brains of the wrestling veterans, when she wasn't greeting her many fans.

Go to the Billie Starkz linktree to get all of her links. Also, check SquaredCircleX.com to get all the info on this cool event. I will be "On the Beat" there and I hope to see many friends. Lastly, check out the interview Tommy Else and I did with Billie at On the Beat With Billie Starkz.

Billie Starkz and me in Indianapolis, IN-May 2021.