Charlie Kruel Shout Out

A couple years ago, wrestler Charlie Kruel was one of the first people I interviewed remotely. She was promoting her appearance for Girl Fight Wrestling, the company Mad Man Pondo runs. That interview is at On the Beat With Charlie Kruel on the Johngy's Beat YouTube channel.

Charlie is an excellent young wrestler, but an even more impressive young woman. She openly discusses her autism and her battles with depression. She is courageous and wants to help others.

Earlier this year, Charlie was kind enough to send a shout out to Johngy's Beat. In turn, I encourage all to check out Charlie on social media and wherever she wrestles. Oh and bring PopTarts.

Bear Down Sunday #3-Bears Versus Rams

The Bears and the Rams are both 1-1.  This is a huge game for the Bears already despite being so early in the season.  The last game for the Bears featured a return to shakier offensive times.  I am hoping for a rebound this week, to the times of the mid-80's Bears.  Let's start with the offensive line.
Born in a suburb of Chicago, Kurt Becker played 8 of his 9 NFL seasons with the Chicago Bears.  He was a member of the 1985 Super Bowl champion Bears, starting 3 games at guard.
Becker was part of the great Bears offensive line of the 1980's.  Although he played one season with the Rams, he did come back to the Bears to play the final season of his career.
I would be remiss if I did not mention that he was a standout lineman at the University of Michigan.  The Gekas clan would never forgive that omission.
The Bears offensive lines of the last few years could use a standout guard (and a standout tackle, a standout center, another standout tackle and another standout guard).  Becker was excellent, yet only started regularly for 2 years of his career.  That is how good those lines were.  As the old joke goes, Becker would probably start on the current Bears offensive line...and he is 54 years old!
Hopefully, the image of Becker will inspire the Bears offensive line to play more reminiscent of the old Bears offensive lines.

Kurt Becker and me in Niles, IL-March 2011.

The Bella Twins Join Johngy's Jay Leno Club at Wizard World

The Jay Leno Club has expanded, thanks to the Bella Twins at Wizard World.  The Jay Leno Club is comprised of celebrities who have mentioned a Johngy-Jay Leno resemblance.  Now, Nicole and Brianna Bella (aka the Bella Twins) have joined this prestigious group.
The Bella Twins are former WWE divas.  Each Bella held the WWE Divas championship once during their stay in the WWE.  The Bella Twins are also known as Brianna Monique Garcia-Colace and Stephanie Nicole Garcia-Colace.
If their names confuse you, their beauty will amaze you.  I am also happy to report that they were both as sweet and pleasant as could be.  Matt and I had a fun exchange with them at their both and I saw plenty of other fans walk away happy and impressed after meeting them.
Lots of talented people pass through the WWE and then disappear.  I believe the Bella Twins will go on to bigger and better things.  I hope so, because they seem like very genuinely nice women.
I hope to see them again at a future convention.  No matter what though, they will always be special to me and the Jay Leno Club.
My only real problem though is how to count them.  Are they the fourteenth member or the fourteenth and fifteenth members of the Jay Leno Club?