On the Beat With Maddie Kapsimalis of Dayton SB

Last week I had the pleasure of interviewing Maddie Kapsimalis, who finished her second collegiate season on the softball diamond. It was a special interview for several reasons.

Although Maddie played her high school ball at Glenbrook South in a nearby suburb, I had not seen her play in person until this season when her Dayton Flyers played at Loyola. Maddie's father Greg and her godfather Chuck Gekas are longtime friends, which made it even more unlikely I had not seen her play.

Maddie had a stellar season, batting .358 after flirting with .400 for most of the season. As great as that season was, Maddie had even better stats in high school, where she put up a .407 average to rank her seventh all time in Illinois. She accomplished all of this while coping with type 1 diabetes.

A age six, Maddie was diagnosed with T1D, but that did not deter her from an athletic career. She set a goal to be  a two-sport varsity athlete and she achieved that goal in her sophomore year. She went on to Drexel and then Dayton, putting up impressive stats along the way. Maddie speaks openly about dealing with T1D, but she has dealt with it so long, it is part of life. Maddie's courage and the difficulties T1D brings should not be minimized or overlooked.

The Flyers finished with their second-most wins in program history. The future looks bright for the team and Maddie. Entering her junior season, Maddie will assume a bigger leadership role, while continuing to put up impressive stats at bat and on defense.

Maddie discussed all of this in our interview. Soft-spoken and humble, Maddie is special on and of the field. Despite my loyalty to Loyola, I love watching players like Maddie and teams like Dayton. You can't help but like them. I already look forward to Dayton's next trip to Loyola.

I wrote more about Maddie and her career on TheEveryDayFan.com. Check the story and interview, along with all the great sports coverage on EDF.

Check the interview at On the Beat With Maddie Kapsimalis on YouTube. Go to DaytonFlyers.com for more info on Maddie and the Flyers.

Mark DeCarlo on Food and Travel

Born in Chicago, Mark DeCarlo has done a lot in the entertainment industry. He has hosted, created, produced and participated in many television projects. He even was a contest on Sale of the Century, winning more than $100k.

Several years ago, I met and interviewed Mark at a convention which had a lot of potential. The convention ended up being wrought with issues, but that's another story. The good news is I met so many great folks, including Mark. Our interview is at On the Beat With Mark DeCarlo.

Mark hosted a show on the Travel Channel for two seasons and also had a food and travel related podcast with his wife. I talked to Mark about all of this in our interview.

I love meeting folks like Mark. He is an under-the-radar celebrity, but he has done so much. He gave me several minutes of his time at the convention both on and off camera. In a convention filled with stars, meeting Mark ranked right up there as one of the best experiences.

Go to MarkDeCarlo.com for more info on Mark and his career. There's also cool merch there.

Mark DeCarlo and me in Bloomingdale, IL-November 2016.

Friend Encounters: Elmo and Mad Man Pondo

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

Mad Man Pondo and Elmo. Now that is an interesting tag-team. There's the hardcore legend and the children's favorite. Would they be a mismatched, but effective, tag team? Would one lean towards the other? Perhaps an edgier Elmo? Or a soft side of Pondo? Whatever way it developed, it would be fun to watch.

I have previously written about Pondo many times. He is one of the good guys in the pro wrestling business and I don't mean his in-ring persona, although he is a fan favorite there, too. Pondo is pure professional. He is the king of hardcore and can be intimidating, but he is one of the nicest guys you could ever meet.

He is also a great teacher. I saw him give advice so many times back in our days together at Resistance Pro Wrestling. Never pushy and always on target, Pondo helped anyone who went to him. He'd spend more time with others than working his own match. He was very giving and a huge asset to the locker room.

Pondo also had a lot of great stories. I loved listening to him tell tales in and out of the ring. I am not rubbing it in though. You can read about many of those stories in Memoirs of a Mad Man, his book written with my pal John Cosper.

It's a fantastic book and John was the perfect choice as a writer. A respectful historian, John has the knowledge and enthusiasm to help bring Pondo's stories to life. There is also talk of another Pondo book and I can't wait!

For more info and for John's other books, go to EatSleepWrestle.com. Also, check here for my updates from John.

Mad Man Pondo and Elmo in Hollywood Studios, FL-January 2020.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #637 Jimmy Buffett & Mavis Staples

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly feature in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. With the MLB season upon us, I continue marching through all team alphabetically.

Born in Mississippi, Jimmy Buffett has entertained folks for 50+ years. Parrot Heads follow him everywhere. Buffett is a huge New Orleans Saints fan, but I don't know his baseball leanings. I have seen him wear several jerseys, including this one with the Cubs to land him on a Celebrity Jersey Card. I am guessing it was from a concert at Wrigley Field, but maybe our pal at Night Owl Cards would know for sure.

Mavis Staples was a  rhythm and blues and gospel singer and civil rights activist, who rose to fame as part of The Staple Singers. Among other awards and accolades, Staples was named No. 56 on Rolling Stone magazine's 2008 list of the 100 Greatest Singers of All Time. Staples earned a Celebrity Jersey Card tossing a pitch for her native town Chicago Cubs. I'm sure it was pitch perfect with a lot of rhythm.

Pinfalls: WWE Night of Champions 2023

Pinfalls is back, with a look at WWE's Night of Champions 2023. Airing Saturday, May 27 at 1:00 pm EST on the Peacock Network, Night of Champions takes place in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia.

As always, my The Johngy “OR ELSE” Podcast partner Tommy Else and I look at the seven scheduled matches, ultimately predicting the winners. The seven matches are:

Intercontinental Championship

Gunther (c) vs. Mustafa Ali

SmackDown Women’s Championship

Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Natalya

Raw Women's Championship

Bianca Belair (c) vs. Asuka

Becky Lynch vs. Trish Stratus

World Heavyweight Championship

Seth "Freakin" Rollins vs. AJ Styles

Undisputed WWE Tag Team Championship

Sami Zayn & Kevin Owens (c) vs. Undisputed WWE Universal Champion Roman Reigns & Solo Sikoa

Cody Rhodes vs. Brock Lesnar

This year, Tommy has a slight edge on me in predictions. Tommy is 17-6, while I am 15-8. You'll have to watch the video to see how many differences we have, but I will say there is at least one. Again, Tommy and I rarely discuss the WWE storylines before these recordings, but somehow our thought processes are remarkably similar.

There are a few candidates capable of being Match of the Night. Of course, there are a couple that seem like duds on the surface, but you never know what might happen. I have to admit, I wasn't too excited about this show, but as Tommy and I broke down the card, I actually found myself more invested that I thought.

This is an interesting card. Shows in Saudi Arabia are always a wildcard. Saudi Arabian influences can affect outcomes, regardless of ongoing storylines. 

Watch our predictions at Pinfalls: WWE Night of Champions on YouTube and make your own. You can also find other Night of Champions analysis on The Every Day Fan. Check back on Sunday for the full recap and to see how everyone did.

Lisa Marie Varon at Wizard World 2011

I started really focusing on comic conventions around 2008. Lisa Marie Varon was one of the first celebrities who became a comic con friend. Over the years, we have become friends away from the comic con scene, too.

An amazing wrestler, Lisa attained much success in the WWE, Impact and elsewhere. She was one of the most successful women wrestlers of her era and really is one of the best of all time.

She also owned and ran The Squared Circle a popular restaurant on the near north side of Chicago. Lisa was not an absent owner. She was hands-on and very visible, often even joining folks at tables for chats and laughs. I loved going to her place.

For all she accomplished professionally, it is her just being Lisa which makes her awesome. She greets me with a big smile and a warm hug. She is such a sweetheart.

Lisa would be a great addition to Women's Wrestling Army. It seems built for her. WWA focuses on great in-ring action. Lisa could be commissioner or advisor or some other role. Any company would benefit from Lisa's knowledge and mere presence.

Lisa has been a guest at Wizard World a few times, including 2011, as seen below. Wizard World was purchased by Fan Expo, but it remains pretty much the same great convention. The next Fan Expo is June 2-4 in Philadelphia, but Chicago's is August 10-13. It promises to be another great event.

Check out a lot of cool Lisa merchandise at her Big Cartel store. Fr more info on Fan Expo, go to FanExpoHQ.com.

Lisa Marie Varon and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2011.

Roxi Heart and Joey Roth at Wizard World 2021

My pals Roxi Heart and Joey Roth are not just world famous fabulous idols on the wrestling scene, they are just as world famous and fabulous in the world of comic cons. Both are fixtures on both scenes.

I probably crossed paths with the couple long before I actually knew them. Roxi is a world class cosplayer and Joey usually can be seen toting one of his many title belts (real ones, not fake replicas). Joey has also assisted me on Johngy's Beat by conducting interviews with several creators.

Despite being the ultimate villains in wrestling (roles they relish), the power couple is the opposite in life. They are two of the nicest, funniest people I know.

Joey has an excellent mind for wrestling and is quick on his feet. That makes him great on the mic. It also makes him great to do interviews. He doesn't need much prep, because he is so good at improv.

Roxi's acting background is put to use in her wrestling career. More important or impressive though, is her courage in battling and discussing her eating disorders. She talked about her issues on an interview onn The Johngy "OR ELSE" podcast.

When I see them at wrestling shows, I know I am supposed to boo them, but I can't. They are just so good. Hmm maybe I will have to join them. Could Johngy become a world famous fabulous idol? Stay tuned.

Until then, look for all of us at Fn Expo in Chicago August 10-13. For info and scheduling, go to FanExpoHQ.com.

Roxi Heart, Joey Roth and me in Rosemont, IL-October 2021.

On the Beat With Loyola WBB Sitori Tanin

Despite being in the thick of NCAA softball playoff season, my mind took a brief detour to the hardwood. Yesterday, I interviewed Loyola basketball player Sitori Tanin.

Sitori is wrapping up her junior year at Loyola, where she is majoring in advertising and PR. She also is starring on the basketball court, seeing her stats improve across the board each season.

Despite Loyola struggling last season, the team showed plenty of heart and ability. A big part of that came from Sitori, who, due to other injuries, often logged more minutes than Coach Allison Guth would have liked.

Along with her basketball achievements and classroom studies, Sitori is carving a niche on YouTube. Her videos are a mix of personal, sports, and fun content. It really appeals to all ages, although Sitori says part of her desire is to help younger students get a feel for college life.

Sitori is a star on and off the court. I have had the pleasure of watching her from the courtside press table. She is all you would want in a player. This was my first long conversation with Sitori, but you can easily see she is a quality person off the court.

Watch the interview at On the Beat with Sitori Tanin. Go to LoyolaRamblers.com for more info on Sitori and the Ramblers. Check out TheEveryDayFan.com for more sports coverage.

 

James Finn Garner at Wizard World Chicago 2017

While I haven't seen James Finn Garner recently, he is always one of my favorites at any comic con. I have interviewed him many times at Wizard World. All of my Wizard World interviews can be found on the Johngy's Beat Wizard World playlist on YouTube.

You might ask why a best-selling author is dressed like a clown. That could be part o the comic con experience, but in this case, James is drawing attention to Rex Koko, one of the great characters he created. The Rex Koko series is clown noir, which in itself is also a unique concept. I was sold as soon as I heard about it, but delving into the books, I fell in love with the stories and character.

James has a bunch of other books, too. He even has nonfiction books. Several of his works are on my bookshelf.

Wizard World was purchased by Fan Expo. There are a few changes, but it is still a fantastic event. The next Fan Expo is in Philadelphia June 2-4.

For more info on Jim, check out JamesFinnGarner.com. Also, go to FanExpoHQ.com for news and schedules for events all year.

James Finn Garner and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

Friend Encounters: Krysten Knievel and Jim Strong

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

When I was a kid, Evel Knievel was about as cool as it gets. The motorcycle daredevil was famous for jumping things, such as the fountains at Caesar's Palace. I had an Evel action figure, which was one of my favorites, despite it being a solo figure. I couldn't do much with it, because there were no other figures with him, but it was still cool because it was Evel. It was my first action figure of a real person.

Fast forward to the present and I saw my pal Jim with Krysten Knievel, Evel's granddaughter. Now I feel really old. Krysten is one of several musicians Jim has suggested to me. Scheduling has prevented me from seeing Krysten perform, but that has to change sometime soon. While she doesn't have her own YouTube channel, there are some good videos of her performances there. For now, that will have to do.

Follow Krysten Knievel on Facebook to get info and updates. I hope to see Krysten perform this summer, but if I'm not here, chances are you'll see Jim. 

Jim and Krysten Knievel in Woodstock, IL-April 2023.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #636 John Daly & Shaquille O'Neal

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly feature in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. With the MLB season upon us, I continue marching through all team alphabetically.

California native John Daly is one of the most successful golfers of all time. He is also a bit of a character, as witnessed by his Celebrity Jersey Card. Looking a bit lie Santa Claus, Daly wears some of the funkiest pants (shorts (?) seen on any CLC.

Born in Newark, New Jersey, Shaquille O'Neal enjoyed a 19 season Hall of Fame NBA career with six teams. Shaq also ventured into acting and broadcasting. Shaq earned a Celebrity Jersey Card tossing a pitch for the St. Louis Cardinals. He wouldn have been quite an imposing pitcher. For his CJC, Shaq wore #33, which he only wore for his one season with the Cleveland Cavaliers. For the Cardinals, 46 players wore #33, but none extremely famous. I'll go with current player Brendan Donovan.

On the Beat with Georgina Corrick

Athletes Unlimited AUX Softball starts with the draft June 9 in Rosemont, Illinois. Pitcher Georgina Corrick is preparing for the season and will arrive in town in about two weeks. Knowing the hectic schedule of this short season, I took the opportunity to interview Georgina yesterday.

Georgina was born in England, but moved to the United States as an infant. Although she attempted a few sports, she found her spot on the softball field. Starting as a catcher, Georgina eventually moved to the pitching mound, thus launching an elite pitching career.

At South Florida, Georgina won numerous awards and accolades, while putting her name all over the program's leaderboard. Among her awards, she won the first pitchering Triple Crown in NCAA history. She also ended her career perfectly, pitching the gem in her last collegiate game in front of her parents, too.

On the international stage, Georgina continued her excellence for Great Britain. In European Championships, Georgina and her teams won two bronze and one silver medal. 

Georgina was selected third overall in the 2022 AU Draft. In the inaugural AUX season in San Diego, Georgina finished fifth with 1,308 points. She continued setting records, including the first pitcher to record double-digit strikeouts, and a record 162 pitches in 9.1 innings.

In our interview, Georgina started by telling the story of her attempts at youth sports. It took a little perseverance and a little luck, but Georgina eventually found her home on the softball field. It's a great origin story, although ever-humble Georgina describes it as “embarrassing.”

She discussed moving from catcher to pitcher, experiencing success, pitching in front of her parents and representing her native GB internationally. She also gave her thoughts on the unique scoring system and setup on AU Softball, including her initial feelings, preparing for the short season and current thoughts with one season completed. She confirmed she will play the AU championship season starting in late July, after returning from international play. 

Although she has no immediate plans of retiring and I certainly hope she plays a long time, Georgina hopes to become a shark enthusiast when she finally leaves the field. She explained what a shark enthusiast is and how she is already preparing for that potential endeavor. I recommended the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago as a place to visit while she is in town with AUX.

I look forward to seeing Georgina in action at AUX. It will be great to finally meet her in person.

Watch the interview at On the Beat With Georgina Corrick. For more info on AU, go to AUProSports.com. Follow here for my recurring coverage.

On the Beat With Loyola SB Coach Alicia Abbott

After a sensational run, the Loyola Ramblers finished the season in second place in the Atlantic 10 Conference with a record of 27-23. That run included three big wins to vault into second to end the regular season. 

Unfortunately, the Ramblers' run ended with a tough 10 inning loss to George Mason in the Atlantic 10 Conference Tournament, but that doesn't dimish the success and excitement of the season.

The 27 wins are Loyola's most wins since 2013. The overall record is their second best (to 2013) in the last 19 years. Their perfect 14-0 home record is the best over that same time period.

Leading the Ramblers is fourth year Head Coach Alicia Abbott. Earlier this week, I had the pleasure of interviewing Coach Abbott to talk about her career and this magical season.

A native of New Lenox, Illinois (a southern suburb of Chicago), Abbott played high school softball at Lincoln—Way Central. Coincidentally, she was a teammate of my nephew's future wife. She began her college career at UIC, where she was the Horizon League Newcomer of the Year in 2008. After two seasons, she transferred to North Carolina State, hitting .283 in two seasons with the Wolfpack.

I started the interview by asking Coach Abbott for a scouting report on Abbott the player. She then discussed her start in coaching, which was as a volunteer assistant at North Carolina State in 2012. A few stops later, Abbott was named Head Coach at loyola in late 2019.

Unfortunately for Coach Abbott, her first season was shortened by the pandemic. Still, the Ramblers finished weith a winning record of 12-9. After two losing, but competitive seasons, Coach Abbott and the Ramblers seemed poised for a good first season in the Atlantic 10 Conference.

A 4-14 start could have crushed the spirit of many teams, but not the Ramblers. They finished extremely strong, going 23-9. Coach Abbott talked about overcoming all of these obstacles and staying positive and on track.

Coach Abbott gave her thoughts on her seniors and grad student athletes, including having to say goodbye to them. I have witnessed the emotions from all on several Senior Days at Loyola games. I have no real connection to these players, but even I get misty-eyed. I can only imagine the thoughts of players, coaches and families. Coach Abbott gave clear thoughts on the situation, but I also know how deeply she cares for all of her players.

Two other specific players I mentioned were second year pitchers Peyton Pepkowski and Andie Broniewicz. They went a combined 24-20, with an ERA of about 2.50, with each throwing a no-hitter. While praising the effort, skills and futures of the two staff aces, Coach Abbott was quick to mention Bailey Johnson, the third pitcher on her squad.

I really appreciate Coach Abbott's time. More importantly, I appreciate everything Coach Abbott has done at Loyola and for me. While most coaches are polite, Coach Abbott always goes the extra mile by thanking me for covering the team. It always means a lot when a Coach or player recognizes me for giving exposure to the team.

Watch our interview at On the Beat With Loyola SB Coach Alicia Abbott. For more info on the Ramblers, go to Loyola Rambles.com.

On the Beat With Greta Cecchetti

Greta Cecchetti was born in Bollate, Lombardy, Italy. She became the first born and raised Italian softball player to play at the NCAA Division I level, as well as professionally in the United States and Japan.

I got to watch Cecchetti up close last year when she pitched for Athletes Unlimited. Despite AU playing about 15 minutes from my home, my first interview with her came last week while she is halfway around the world in Japan. That interview is at On the Beat With Greta Cecchetti.

Cecchetti attended high school in Italy. She played for the Italian National Team from 2004-11, winning the European Championship in 2007. She also played in Italian Softball League from 2004-11, winning the 2005 Italian Championship. She also played five seasons in the Australian Softball League

After coming to the United States, Cecchetti started her college career at Polk State College, before moving on to Texas A&M-Corpus Christi for two seasons. While majoring in psychology, Cecchetti managed to make her mark on the Texas A&M leaderboards, despite pitching only two seasons.

In her one season with AU, Cecchetti earned 1,044 points in 15 games pitched. Wearing No. 81, she tied for eighth in the league with 1,060 win points.

Part of the unique structure of AU is playing for a cause, where a percentage of the player bonus goes to a charity chosen by the athlete. Cecchetti played for BEE Daring Foundation, whose mission statement is “Eradicating the stigmas surrounding mental health for college students, first responders, and athletes.”

Cecchetti discussed all of this and more in our interview. Unfortunately, because of the shaky wifi in Japan, there is no vide, but I inserted a few cool pictures from Cecchetti's career.

In addition to softball, Cecchetti gave some thoughts on travel, including a little advice. Having traveled as much as she has, Cecchetti certainly qualifies as an expert.

Thank you to Cecchetti for her time and consideration. Be sure to follow her on social media to get updates on her career, including this season in Japan.

Talking Travel With Mike Nixon

While at my local library, I stumbled upon Life Travel and the People in Between: A Memoir by Mike Nixon. After reading it, I enjoyed it so much I bought it to keep forever. Wanting to learn more, I contacted Nixon for an interview.

Nixon states the book was years in the making, but its roots really go back to his post-high school job at a hotel in Norfolk. The world coming to him through thousands of travelers spurred him to abandon his comfort zone and study in the Dominican Republic. Over the many years since, Nixon went from dreaming of the world to being a veteran traveler.

Life Travel and the People in Between: A Memoir is part travel guide, part intimate journal. Nixon introduces the reader to locations, people and cultures. Along the way, Nixon isn’t shy about revealing good and bad life lessons learned.

While the book is also about Nixon’s growth as a traveler and a person, it serves as a constant reminder for the reader to lead a meaningful life. At the heart of his book, the reason he wrote it, is Nixon’s desire for meaning in his life. He found that meaning through travel.One of the book’s strengths is Nixon’s realistic travel plan. It’s not about the most glamorous destinations, it’s about his journey. Nixon could get as much from any tiny town as from a thriving metropolis.

Nixon discussed all of this in our interview. He also named a few bucket list destinations and gave his best travel tips. He even talked about adjusting to life at home, although he is far from finished traveling.

Find our interview at Talking Travel with Mike Nixon. Go to GlobalTravelerUSA.com for more travel-related content.

Happy Birthday, Laura!

Today is the birthday of my eldest niece Laura. I won't be celebrating with her, but I do celebrate her here.

It is always cliche to say, but it is also true. Where did the years go?

I distinctly remember riding the train with her mom Nancy and learning of Laura's impending birth. Seemingly all of a sudden, the baby on the way became an adult. She's not just any adult though.

Laura is smart, beautiful, funny, sarcastic (just a bit) and cool. I enjoy trading dumb memes with her and asking her musical opinion on performers I stumble upon. I couldn't have dreamed of a cooler niece, but somehow that niece also became a sweet friend. 

I chose the picture below because it is pure Laura. A fantastic daughter, niece, granddaughter and cousin, she is also a wonderful dog sister. Nobody loves the family dogs more than Laura. Her heart just beats for them always.

I am sure Laura is celebrating in northwest Indiana with her parents, but I raise a toast to her here. Happy birthday, Laura! I love you!

Laura in northwest Indiana-Winter 2022.

Friend Encounters: Shawn Green and Larry Freda

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

While my east coast pal Larry is a huge New York sports fan and meets lots of NY sports figures, I always like to feature him with others. Today, I am straddling the line a bit with Shawn Green, who is more known for his time elsewhere.

Green had an excellent 15 year career, but he only played a little over one season in New York with the Mets. The rest of his career was spent with the Toronto Blue Jays (seven seasons), Los Angeles Dodgers (five seasons) and Arizona Diamondbacks (one and a half seasons). During his career, he amassed 2,003 hits with a .283 batting average. He was an All-Star twice and won a Gold Glove and a Silver Slugger award. I believe that puts him in the Hall of the Very Good. Green was one of my favorites and a regular on my fantasy teams when I played.

Green meets the qualification as a former New York player, but I honestly forgot he played there when I started this feature. Leave it to Larry to teach me (or at least remind me) of some baseball history.

Larry is a great guy. He has battled some health issues, but he is a fighter with a lot of spirit. There are a lot more athletes Larry needs to meet in the future.

Shawn Green and Larry in Ridgewood, NJ-June 2011.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #635 Bob Uecker & John "Blue Moon" Odom

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly feature in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. With the MLB season upon us, I continue marching through all team alphabetically.

Bob Uecker played six seasons for the Milwaukee Brewers, St. Louis Cardinals, Philadelphia Phillies and Atlanta Braves. Coincidentally, Uecker was born in Milwaukee, Wisconsin and in another coincidence, we share a birthday, although Bob is a few years older. Although Uecker had several cards as a player, he gets a Celebrity Jersey Card from his announcing years with the Brewers. This doesn't break CJC rules by using a coach, because Uecker wasn't really a coach. It might bend the rule a bit, but this is Uecker!

Born in Macon, Georgia, John "Blue Moon" Odom enjoyed 13 seasons in the MLB. He spent 11+ with the Oakland A's, before finishing with the Cleveland Indians, Atlanta Braves and Chicago White Sox. With the White Sox, Odomo combined with Francisco Barrios for a no-hitter against the A's in what would be his last MLB win. He pitched briefly in 1977 in the minors for Oakland, but that was it for his career. Like Uecker, Odom's Celebrity Jersey Card bends the rules a bit. He wears a Milwaukee jersey from the Negro Leagues, but since it was for a Milwaukee Brewers event, I credited it as such.

Meeting Carl Weathers

This looks like a standard pic of me with another celebrity. On the surface, it si just that, a pic of me with Carl Weathers, but there's a lot more to this photo.

Weathers was a football star at San Diego State. Although he went undrafted, he played parts of two seasons with the Oakland Raiders. He then ventured to an acting career.

Rocky is one of my all-time favorite movies and Weathers as Apollo Creed was a big part of it. Weathers reprised his role in a few sequels. Most recently, he had a recurring role in The Mandalorian.

When I met Weathers at Fan Expo, I mentioned his football career and Rocky and he laughed and said I was the first to ask about football and one of the few to mention Rocky. He continued by joking he felt old. Suddenly I felt older, too. Granted, Fan Expo has a younger crowd and Star Wars is huge, but Rocky is iconic. The Wizard of Oz came well before my time, but I still know all about it.

For Weathers, though, it's all good. Being a part of a legendary franchise is a ticket to much demand at comic cons. While Weathers was always popular and could demand a decent price, being in the Star Wars franchise increased both of those factors.

It doesn;t end there for Weathers though. As a former NFL player, he is a triple threat. Football fans, Raiders fans in particular, will always want to meet him. Of course, playing Apollo put him in the sports con world, but the Raiders connection cements it.

Standing next to Weathers was surreal. It took me back to my youth watching Rocky for the first time. I never thought I'd be standing next to him and even talking to him as a journalist. I have met many celebrities, but Weathers is one who will always stand out.

The funny thing is I didn't even expect to meet Weathers. Once again though, the fine staffers at Fan Expo created a great opportunity for me and thousands of others.

Fan Expo replaced Wizard World in late 2021. The Chicago event in August was its debut here and it was fantastic.For more info, check FanExpoHQ.com.

Carl Weathers and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2022.

Maria Kanellis of Women's Wrestling Army

Maria Kanellis was originally hired in 2004 by the WWE as a back stage interviewer. Before too long, she added in-ring wrestling to her resume. Since then, Maria has carved out almost two decades in pro wrestling.

Perhaps her most significant project is Women's Wrestling Army. While WWA has only had a few shows, it has been some of the best wrestling I have seen. Maria and her crew do everything right. They don't just fill a wrestling card with any women. WWA brings in top indie wrestlers like KiLynn King, Kayla Sparks, Missa Kate and others. The women bust their butts every match. I cannot praise WWA enough.

There is no future show date announced yet and Maria is a bit busy with Ring of Honor right now, but I am sure a new WWA event will be announced fairly soon. This is a labor of love for Maria and it is growing with each event.

Follow Women's Wrestling Army of Facebook to get more news and updates. Also, check back here, for my recurring coverage. 

Maria Kanellis and me in Berwyn, IL-November 2022.

The Baseball Acumen of George Castle

I first met writer George Castle about 35 years ago at Lerner Newspapers. One of the sportswriters, George's strength was his coverage of the Chicago Cubs.

Over the years there, George and I worked on a few projects together and it was always fun. George is an encyclopedia of baseball knowledge. He was probably the only person at Lerner who could beat me in a baseball trivia contest. The man knew dates, details and everything else and not just about the Cubs.

Outside of Lerner, George is an accomplished author of many baseball books, most of which are on my bookshelf. He wrote some great books on the Cubs and various players, but again, he is not limited to just the Cubs.

If you are a baseball fan, check out George's books on Amazon. I am a tad biased, but I am sure you will enjoy them as much as I do. If you see him at any convention, greet him as Less Gigante, a fun reference to his diet. He'll know I sent you.

George Castle and me in Milwaukee, WI-November 2017.

On the Beat With Jade Hewitt

I first met Jade Hewitt many years ago, when she was a photographer for the Dallas Charge of National Pro Fastpitch (NPF). After the NPF, Jade moved on to Athletes Unlimited Pro Sports (AU), building an impressive resume, including the Olympics, Topps cards and more. Earlier this week, Jade discussed all of this in our interview.

While attending Millsaps College in Jackson, Tennessee, Jade was a four-year letter winner on the softball team. While the ever-humble downplays her softball prowess, she was awarded All Conference and All Tournament selections and was a team captain her junior and senior years.

Jade tells the tale of her start in the NPF. It's a story of guts and persistence. The fledgling Charge franchise quickly learned the talent they just acquired when Jade joined the organization.

After NPF, AU came calling. As the Lead Photographer, Jade was in charge of capturing the moments and players in softball, volleyball, lacrosse and basketball. Each sport required a unique photographic eye and Jade was more than up for that challenge. The thousands of pictures over the four years of AU prove Jade was the right choice.

At AU, Jade's photos appeared on the first ever women's softball cards produced by the Topps Company. That alone would be the career highlight for most folks, but Jade has done much more.

In addition to AU, Jade also did photography and videography for Team USA, including at the Olympics. Only the players get official medals, but Jade certainly earned a gold medal for her work.

Jade discussed all of this in our interview. She talked about the challenges of finding unique shots during four years of softball, the pros and cons of staying in the same stadium, adjusting to other sports and more, including her favorite frozen yogurt and the occasional return to recreational play on the field.

Those who follow Jade on social media (and everyone should), already know this, but Jade often gives photography tips. Not only that, but in the interview, Jade excitedly states she loves helping others. Jade realizes what women before her did and her place in history. She is proud to help future generations. Her enthusiasm is one of the best parts. As much as she enjoys her work, she also takes great pride and thrills in passing down advice.

The AUX season starts with the first team drafts on June 9 in Rosemont. Of course, Jade will be there photographing the draft. Actually, I am sure she will be there earlier as the players settle in and start practicing. I know she will be there for all the AUX games, then she will return in late July for the regular AU softball season.

I thank Jade for her time, but also for all of the great photos she has shared with the world. I have great appreciation for Jade's work and even more for Jade herself. She's an asset to the world of women's sports.

For more info on Jade, go to JadeHewittMedia.com. Also, check AUProSports.com to see her work with the league. Check out the interview at On the Beat With Jade Hewitt.

Talking Travel With Andrew McCarthy

Last year at the Travel & Leisure Show in Chicago, actor and travel writer Andrew McCarthy gave an amazing presentation. Discussing his thoughts on travel with his book The Longest Way Home as a focal point, McCarthy mesmerized the audience, including me.

Through years of writing travel pieces for several publications, McCarthy proved he had passion for travel and the necessary writing chops to be taken seriously. McCarthy successfully added writing to a lengthy resume of acting and directing successes.

Citing travel as a necessity, McCarthy differentiated travel from vacations. He emphasized travel taking us out of comfort zones and conquering fears.

Being familiar with many of his travel articles and thoroughly enjoying McCarthy's talk, I purchased The Longest Way Home. I was so engrossed, I finished it in one weekend. It is a perfect blend of introspection and travel, with each enhancing the other.

When I saw McCarthy wrote Walking With Sam, about a journey with his teenage son, I was immediately intrigued. I reached out to McCarthy for an interview for Global Traveler.

The interview started with McCarthy discussing discovering his love of travel and how it led to a writing career. He talked about being taken seriously as a writer and his writing career progression. He expounded on a few main points from last year's presentation.

Talked turned to his books. While The Longest Way Home was a solo trip and a journey for self-reflection, Walking With Sam is the story of “a father, a son, and five hundred miles across Spain.”

As his eldest son neared adulthood, McCarthy hoped to create a meaningful connection with a trek of 500 miles across Spain's Camino de Santiago. It's the story of father and son traveling across a country and toward each other. The intimate, candid tale has travel as the backdrop.

I find it fascinating McCarthy turned to travel for two of the most important points in his life. The first was a period of self-discovery, while the second was building on his relationship with his son. He chose travel on both occasions.

As you will learn in the interview, McCarthy has unique and intriguing views on travel. Those thoughts are woven throughout his books, too. Through his writing, I learn about McCarthy and spectacular places, as well as a bit about myself.

Before finishing the interview, I asked McCarthy for his travel advice. McCarthy's response was another example of his deep respect and passion for travel. This wasn't a Hollywood star spouting taglines. This was a person speaking from the heart about a subject rooted in his very being.

Walking With Sam is released today. I preordered mine and can't wait to dive into it. McCarthy's book tour starts, too. He said Chicago is on the list and I promised to be there to see him again and talk a bit more travel.

Watch the interview at Talking Travel With Andrew McCarthy. Go to AndrewMcCarthy.com for more info.

Friend Encounters: Beat-Her Juice and Tony Feddeler

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

Beat-Her Juice is one of the skaters of the Chicago Knockouts, a roller derby league based in the Chicago area. Her ability and enthusiasm quickly made her one of our favorites.

Tommy Else and I interviewed her on The Johngy "OR ELSE" Podcast - Ep. 61: Beat-Her Juice. The interview showed a new and fascinating side to Juice. She explained how she changing her name from Pamdemic (for obvious reasons) and moving back from Seattle. She also talked about using her science background on the track. She explained how science relates to speed and how she figures it all. It really was interesting hearing her talk about that aspect of her game.

Juice is one of the most enthusiastic skaters out there. She plays to the crowd, without missing a beat on the track. My buddy Tony and I love watching her in action. The Knockouts play at the Homewood-Flossmore Auditorium, which is too small for a regulation track. We would love to see what Juice could do on such a track. Her speed would really come into play on the straightaways.

The Knockouts return to action Saturday, May 13. For more info, check out the Chicago Knockouts on Facebook.

Tony Feddeler and Beat-Her Juice in Homewood, IL-April 2023.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #634 Jimmy Carter & Kenny Rogers

Celebrity Jersey Cards is a weekly feature in which I create virtual trading cards for celebrities wearing sports jerseys. With the MLB season upon us, I continue marching through all team alphabetically.

Born in Plains, Georgia, James Earl Carter grew up to become the 39th President of the United States. President Carter has spent much of his post-presidency helping others, especially in his native Georgia. Fittingly, President Carter earned his Celebrity Jersey Card while wearing an Atlanta Braves jersey and he gets extra points for adding the cap.

Born in Houston, Texas, Brandon Ray Rogers gained legendary fame in the entertainment industry. As "Kenny," he has been active for more than 65 years. Kenny has won many awards and is in several Halls of Fame. While the other "Kenny Rogers" was a pitcher wearing many uniforms on his baseball cards, this Kenny wears the Atlanta Braves jersey for his Celebrity Jersey Card.

Pinfalls: WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2023

My podcast partner Tommy Else and I are back with Pinfalls: WWE WrestleMania Backlash 2023. As always, Tommy and I analyze the matches and make our predictions.

Airing Saturday at 7 p.m. CST on the Peacock Network, it will be the 18th Backlash event. It is being held at the Coliseo de Puerto Rico Jose Miguel Agrelot in San Juan, Puerto Rico, making it the first WWE PPV in Puerto Rico since New Year's Revolution in January 2005.

There are seven scheduled matches:

San Juan Street Fight

Bad Bunny vs. Damian Priest

Singles Match

Seth “Freakin” Rollins vs. Omos

WWE Women's Smackdown Championship

Rhea Ripley (c) vs. Zelina Vega

WWE Raw Women's Championship

Bianca Belair (c) vs. Iyo Sky

WWE United States Championship Triple Threat

Austin Theory (c) vs. Bobby Lashley vs. Bronson Reed

Six-Man Tag Team Match

Matt Riddle, Kevin Owens and Sami Zayn vs. The Bloodline

Singles Match

Brock Lesnar vs. Cody Rhodes

Tommy and I share our feeling of being underwhelmed by this lineup, but the beauty of wrestling is any match can steal the show and a couple great ones can make this an excellent event.

In our competition, Tommy has regained the lead for the year. Tommy is 17-6, while I trail at 15-8. We both did great on our WrestleMania predictions, which either means we are on a roll or the WWE is too predictable. For Backlash, we do have some differences, although when we agree, our thoughts are amazingly similar. Once again, I state Tommy and I do not discuss this ahead of recording.

Make your own predictions and watch Pinfalls: WWE WrestleMania Backlash on YouTube to see how yours compare to ours. Enjoy WWE WrestleMania Backlash and see how we all do. Check The Every Day Fan for the results and other wrestling coverage.

Bianca Beauchamp at Wizard World Chicago 2017

Native Canadian Bianca Beauchamp is one of the most famous cosplayers in the world. She is also one of the nicest and coolest ones I have met.

At Wizard World a few years ago, she did her take on cosplaying Superman (or maybe Supergirl?). Bianca has acted abit on television and in movies and has been a model, appearing on the cover and in many magazines. She also self-published a book and a reality documentary on herself.

Named after Bianca Jagger, her personality is lively and perfect for the convention scene. If her beauty doesn't catch you, her aura will. She is a sweetheart.

Go to BiancaBeauchamp.com and the Bianca Beauchamp YouTube channel for more fun.. Also, check FanExpoHQ.com for all the news and schedules of their events.

Bianca Beauchamp and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

On the Beat With Dawn Montefusco

Let me introduce you to my longtime friend Dawn Montefusco. By trade, Dawn is a Transformational Writing Coach, a poet, a story-teller, author and more. At heart, she is an intellectual, free-spirited lover of life. Her titles and qualities combine to make her one of the most unique people I have ever known.

I serendipitously stumbled upon Dawn through her blog about 20 years ago. Since then, we have kept in touch and followed each other's life and work. We never actually talked though, but that changed earlier this week when I interviewed Dawn. The cause of that momentous occasion is the release of her book “Cracking the Resistance Code: How to Break Through the Fear of Uncertainty and Write Your Book.”

In our interview, Dawn discussed her path to becoming a Transformational Writing Coach. While she has the education to merit the title, she also has life experiences which allowed her to hone her skills.

Already an award-winning author and poet, a series of events led her to write “Cracking the Resistance Code.” Dawn talks about the journey, including her battle to crack her own code along the way. Dawn isn't a teacher throwing out sterile formulas to success. She shares her proven techniques and strategies to help the reader break through mental roadblocks. The book itself is the proof, because of what she encountered and overcame in the writing of it.

Dawn is an amazingly positive person, but there are a few poignant parts in the interview when she discusses her low points. Rather than keep her down though, Dawn always found her way back. Those experiences shaped Dawn and ultimately led to “Cracking the Resistance Code.”

In the book, Dawn promises you will discover:

• How to identify your resistance styles and what triggers them
• Techniques to keep you writing instead of second-guessing yourself
• How to successfully overcome overwhelm, anxiety, and the fear of “writing it wrong.”
• What it takes to tap into flow and inspire your inner muse
• Dramatically increase your writing productivity and output
• Why embracing uncertainty is the key to being an unstoppable writer

You will also discover a lot about yourself and about Dawn, too. 

This book isn't just about writing though. The basics shared by Dawn can be applied to all aspects of life. As I state in the interview, this is so Dawn. She didn't simply write an author manual. That wouldn't be Dawn. While it is a writing handbook, it is so much more than that.

At 60 pages, “Cracking the Resistance Code” is a short book. Again, so Dawn. Right to the point, not wasting the reader's time, Dawn packs everything in tightly. If you want flowing prose, read her poetry (also highly recommended).

“Cracking the Resistance Code” releases today. Even better, it is only $.99 through May 6. You will not find better advice or a better deal.

For more information, go to DawnMontefusco.com. Watch our interview at On the Beat With Dawn Montefusco.

On the Beat With Jordyn Rudd

About a week ago, the Women's Professional Fastpitch USSSA Pride selected Northwestern catcher Jordyn Rudd with the fourth pick in the sixth round. Last weekend, the Northwestern Wildcats clinched a second straight Big Ten championship. This morning, I talked to Jordyn about these two big events and a lot more. That interview is at On the Beat With Jordyn Rudd.

A native of Greenwood, Indiana, Jordyn excelled at Center Grove, before entering Northwestern. Jordyn immediately won the starting job and held it all five seasons. Proving her durability, Jordyn played and started all 231 games during her career.

During her NU career, Jordyn hit .328, with 28 home runs, 193 RBI's, 107 runs scored and a .526 slugging percentage. She also has a .995 fielding percentage, making only nine errors in her career.

Among her many awards and accolades, Jordyn won the Rawlings Gold Glove Award presented by NFCA at catcher, becoming the first ever recipient of the award. She also won the 2022 Johnny Bench Award, presented by the Hall of Fame catcher to the best female catcher in the nation. Those two achievements alone are amazing, yet Jordyn has earned many more.

Jordyn discussed all of this in our interview. She also talked about hitting home runs in batting practice. Sharon J. Drysdale Field has Welsh Ryan Arena beyond the left field wall. Jordyn discussed the possibility of hitting homers over the roof. For a slugger like Jordyn, who is second on the team in home runs with seven (Angela Zedak leads with nine), it has to be tempting to have some fun and shoot for the roof at times.

Jordyn talked about her start in softball, her gymnastics background, meeting legendary Coach Drysdale, life outside of softball and life after softball. She spoke of her happiness with being drafted by the Pride, but didn't know much else because of NCAA rules. I do know the Pride plays a series in Peoria in July and I really hope to see her behind the plate for one of the games.

With a record of 15-2, the Wildcats clinched first place in the Big Ten. They finish the regular season this weekend at Rutgers (8-12). While NU has nothing to prove, I am sure Coach Kate Drohan will take the games seriously. She might give role players a bit more playing time, but she will still go for the wins.

After the regular season, NCAA Regionals are held May 19-21, Super Regionals May 26-28 and the Women's College World Series June 1-8. Jordyn, the Wildcats and Team Purple fans are ready!

I thank Jordyn for her time and consideration. I also appreciate all the great softball memories during her career. Go to NUSports.com for more info and schedules.

Tom Richmond at Wizard World Chicago 2017

One of my favorites on the comic con scene is Tom Richmond, perhaps most notably known for his outstanding work with Mad Magazine. The freelance cartoonist and caricaturist is amazingly talented and very friendly.

In addition to Mad Magazine, Tom did work for Cracked, the Married... with Children comic book for NOW Comics and The Coneheads, the mini-series for Marvel Comics. Tom also created his version of my Johngy character. It is one of my favorite pieces and proudly hangs on my wall/

Tom is a great guest at comic cons. He is extremely engaging and has lots of cool artwork. One of the most enjoyable things is to catch him sketching. To see him in action is simply amazing. Watching ablank sheet come to life with his artwork is always one of the highlights for me at any comic con.

I have followed Tom's work for many years and I always look forward to seeing him at comic cons. My next chance should be Fan Expo Chicago, August 10-13.

Check TomRichmond.com for info and art. Go to FanExpoHQ.com for news and schedules for events all year.

Tom Richmond and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2017.

Friend Encounters: Gangrel, Christian and Heather Owens

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

Squared Circle Expo III was a couple weeks back, but those who attended are still talking about it. Of course Heather Owens was there. She is one of the fabulous foursome who run it.

Heather talked about it on The Johngy "OR ELSE" Podcast - Ep. 38 Hardcore Heather Owens. A friend from our time together at Resistance Pro, Tommy Else and I were very happy to talk to the #classybroad about all of her projects.

During the interview, Heather declared she was retired from wrestling. Then, she was announced as a participant in an eight women match at SCX III. Heather came out and delivered stunners to everyone in the ring, stunning the fans. Then, recently, she announced she would face Shawna Reed on May 20 in Lima Ohio. Is Heather getting the itch? Are these random matches? I hope the former, but I think the latter. Either way, it's good to see Heather in the ring whooping butts.

SCX is a fantastic event, featuring 50+ wrestlers of the past and present. SCX debuted in 2021 and has somehow gotten better each year. How could they top it next year? I have no idea, but I bet they will. I know how hard Heather, Ed, Adolfo and Carrie work on SCX and I know the pride they take. This is a convention for fans and the fans love it.

At SCX III, Heather tried forming a new Brood when she posed with Gangrel and Christian. A woman would have fit in nicely with that group. Seeing the Zombie Heather shirt at Pro Wrestling Tees, I think Heather could have pulled it off.

I am sure the group is already planning SCX IV. For more info and updates, go to SquaredCircleX.com.

Gangrel, Heather Owens and Christian in Indianapolis, IN-April 2023.