Happy Birthday, Nancy!

My eldest sister Nancy celebrates her birthday today. I am here wishing our Matriarch a great day.

Matriarch is a term of endearment, although I am not sure Nanc sees it that way. Definitions include "a powerful woman figure" or "the female head of a family." Nanc is both of those. 

My sisters are my rocks. I am lucky to have two of the best. 

Knowing my odd fascination with mascots, Nanc made sure to get a pic with Chicago Cubs mascot Clark at a Spring Training game. At first, Nanc sent a picture of Clark on the field. When I poked back and said she needed one WITH him, I had no doubt she would get one...and of course she did.

I am pretty sure she didn't care about Clark and did it for me. That's the kind of sisters I have. They would go out of their way for one little heart on their texted picture.

I hope Nancy has a great birthday out west. Our matriarch deserves that. Happy birthday, Nancy, I love you!

Nancy, her friend and Clark is Mesa, AZ-March 2025.

Friend Encounters: Clark and Rabbi Jeremy Fine

Friend Encounters is a weekly series featuring friends meeting celebrities.

Rabbi Jeremy Fine certainly met a lot of celebrities when he held 2econd Wrestling events at WrestleMania earlier this year. Still, Rabbi's heart is in the Chicago area and he proved it with his picture with Clark, the lovable mascot of the Chicago Cubs.

Rabbi Fine started 2econd Wrestling a couple years ago. It quickly became my favorite local wrestling. First champ Billie Starkz was followed by Arik Cannon and now Missa Kate. These are three great wrestlers.

On December 10, I will see Rabbi Fine and the 2econd crew at 2nd in Command in Northbrook, Illinois. The main event is Missa Kate defending against Billie. This is a dream match. My pal Tony and I often stated we would love to see this match and Rabbi Fine is delivering it. I expect Missa to prevail in an amazing match. Both women can brawl and both can mat wrestle. I really look forward to this match.

As for Clark, he has kept a low profile since the season ended. He'll do some promo appearances in the offseason, but will return to Wrigley next season.

Follow 2econd Wrestling on social media to get more updates. I hope to see a bunch of friends at 2econd in Command. 

Rabbi Jeremy Fine and Clark in Deerfield, IL-December 2023.

Friend Encounters: Clark, Ty Ali, Dominique Collins, Deena Fagiano and Matt Pike

Friend Encounters is a weekly series of my friends meeting celebrities.

This picture has everything. It's football players and a coach with a baseball mascot. It features two of my favorite Chicago Bliss players and two of my favorite interview subjects.

I covered the Bliss and the Legends Football League for years. It was a bumpy ride at times. The league wasn't very open to outside media. In fact, at one point I was criticized for being too positive about the Bliss.

First, the Bliss was the most positive thing about the LFL. They won four championships over the last decade. They had the biggest team, coaching staff and fan base.

Second, why would a league not want positive coverage? I wasn't telling lies. I was highlighting the best of the team and the league.

The league has since rebranded as the X League. I am sure it is a financial thing. It has been under criticism from former players and coaches. The pandemic caused the 2020 season to be canceled. It will be interesting to see what happens in 2021.

All of the controversy aside, I made great friends in Dominique Collins and Deena Fagiano, two of the stars of the Bliss and two of my favorite interview subjects. I only met Coach Pike a few times, but we had fun conversations and I remember him from his days as quarterback at Purdue.

I will always have fun memroies of the Bliss. I hope to remain friends with DC, Deena and several others and I look forward to seeing where their careers go.

Covering the Bliss wasn't always easy, but I had a lot of fun. Sometimes, you just take the good and forget the bad.

Ty Ali, Dominique Collins, Clark, Deena Fagiano and Matt Pike in Chicago, IL-July 2016.

Happy Birthday Nancy

Today is my oldest sister Nancy's birthday. Since she is across the country right now, I will celebrate her day here.

We might tease her about being the "matriarch" of the family and being the oldest sibling, we love her dearly. It's not because she makes cookies, cupcakes or even pumpkin rice krispies treats. It's not because she helped hang a bunch of pictures in my place either. It's not even that she indulges me and gets pictures with mascots whenever she can. While Nancy has done a lot for me, it isn't for what she does. We love Nancy for who she is.

Nancy is caring, generous, thoughtful, loyal, funny and all other qualities you'd want in a person. Lucky for me, she is my sister and my friend.

I always say, my sisters are my rocks. I love them both and appreciate them dearly.

We've had so many great memories and I look forward to so many more, like when we celebrate when she's back in town. For now, I just wish her a wonderful birthday. I love you, Nancy.

Nancy and Clark in Chicago, IL-December 2019.