PsychoBabbling

PsychoBabbleTV is one of the best, most underrated fun sites on the internet.  Mike Preston is the creative blowtorch behind the madness and he has a great cast of characters to support his insanity.

I am proud to say I have joined forces with PsychoBabbleTV on occasion (with the Chicago Bliss, Days of the Dead and other endeavors).  I have also appeared briefly on an episode as Dr. Burnbaum's assistant (a role that I nailed and hope to reprise).

In addition to the PsychoBabbleTV episodes on YouTube, there are hundreds of great interviews, pictures and other fun stuff on PsychoBabbleTV.net.  Do yourself a favor and check it out, but give yourself plenty of time, because there is a lot of material and all of it is gold.

Jimmy McHugh, Mike Preston and me in Schaumburg, IL-November 2015.

Adolfo is THE Man and Days is THE Con

My association with Days of the Dead has been well-documented here.  I think it is a great convention,  It has interesting celebrity guests, fun events, a professional staff and anything else you would want.

It always starts at the top and at the top is Adolfo.  I have known him since the first Days in Indy years ago.  He has treated me well, but it's not just me.  He treats everyone well.

The world of these such cons can be a harsh world, but Adolfo never jumps in that fray.  He just continues doing what he does best, running a top notch con.

He is unlike any other convention runner.  His staff is relatively small, but filled with great people, like Heather Owens and Ed Gonzales.  I have never had even the slightest problem at any Days event and I have had some of the best convention experiences ever at various Days events.

I have also been entertained by his Facebook posts, including some delicious food posts.  He is one of the good guys.  I appreciate all he does for me, for the attendees and for the convention scene as a whole.  I will continue to support him and Days every chance I can.

The next Days of the Dead is in Schaumburg, IL.  The headline guests include Hall of Fame wrestler Bret "The Hitman" Hart, former wrestler Chyna, Elvira, Tara Reid and PJ Soles.  This is going to be a great event.  Check out DaysoftheDead.net for ticket info and updates.

Adolfo and me in Indianapolis, IN-June 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Tammy Williams and Tony Feddeler

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

I met Tony Feddeler while covering the Chicago Bandits.  Tony is a huge fan and attends most (all?) of their home games.  He can usually be spotted sitting in the first row behind home plate.

Upon getting to know Tony, I learned we share an interest in wrestling.  Tony has met some interesting wrestlers and I will feature those right here in the future.  For now, I am still on a Bandits high from their NPF (National Pro Fastpitch) championship and I am featuring Tony with one of the star players on the Bandits and in the NPF.

Tammy Williams is an elite player.  In 48 regular season games, Tammy made one error last season.  That is ridiculous.  Aside from her defensive wizardry, she is also an excellent offensive player.  She has been this type of complete player for her entire seven year career, all of which has been spent with the Bandits.

When I interviewed Tammy late in the season, she was undecided on playing next season.  She did say that if she returned, next season would be her last.  Of course, things can change.

I think Tammy will return for one more season.  I sincerely hope she does.  I know Tony and all of Bandit Nation hopes she comes back.  As sad as it will be, Tammy deserves a farewell tour.

 I sincerely hope we get more chances for current pictures with Tammy.  I'd hate to only see Tammy in "Throwback Thursday" material.

Tammy Williams and Tony Feddeler in Rosemont, IL-June 2013.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #240 Jay Buhner & Velvet Sky

This is a regular series which attempts to combine my lifelong passion for trading cards with my semi-professional interest in celebrities.  I am continuing my theme of featuring celebs wearing jerseys of whoever is playing the Chicago Bears.

Jay Buhner was born in Louisville, Kentucky.  He was drafted by the Pittsburgh Pirates, but made his Major League Baseball debut with the New York Yankees.  He spent 14.5 seasons of his 15 year carer with the Seattle Mariners.  His trade from the Yankees for Ken Phelps was the object of a Frank Costanza tirade on tv's Seinfeld.  On his Celebrity Jersey Card, Buhner is wearing the #12 for the 12th Man.

Back again is wrestler Velvet Sky.  I don't think anyone has a problem with repeat appearances by the Velvet One.  For today's Celebrity Jersey Card, she is modeling Richard Sherman's #28 jersey.  As a cornerback, Velvet can cover me anytime and I promise to not even try to escape her coverage.

On the Beat at Dark History Con

Last weekend, I attended Dark History Con in Champaign, IL.  It was the second year of the Dark History Con, but my first year of involvement.

Brian Ward is the man behind DHC.  The concept of DHC is to learn educate and inform about the darker side of history.  It is a simple, yet unique concept.  The celebrity guests all have some connection, such as filmmaker John Borowski, who has made three documentaries about serial killers.

Brian contacted me several months back and everything interested me enough to want to help in any way I could.  He was kind enough to name me as the Production Coordinator.  Working under that cool title, I helped connect Brian with some of the celebrity guests, along with helping promote the show through social media and through distribution of promo materials through my company (Arch New Agency).

Unfortunately, I unexpectedly had to miss Saturday of DHC.  Sunday morning, as I drove down, I did not know what to expect.  Brian had told me the crowd was good on Saturday.  I had seen pictures and info on Facebook and it all looked good.  I was optimistic.

When I arrived at the Fluid Event Center just as Dark History Con opened for the day, I saw two rows of celebrity guests and a smattering of fans.  Slowly the fans kept coming and the crowd lingered.

I spent considerable time with many of the celebrity guests.  I sat in on a few of the special events, including a presentation by Judith A. Yates about her book "When Nashville Bled," the story of Paul Reid.  Ordinarily I come to these conventions to be entertained.  At DHC, I was definitely entertained, but I learned a lot.

Yates made a statement which was very important.  She wrote the book, not to glorify Reid, but for the victims.  Their stories needed to be told.  They deserved that at least.  Her presentation was about 45 minutes and most of it focused on the lives of the victims.  How very poignant.

I reconnected with old friends I have met through other cons.  Bruce Scivally, Terence Muncy and Borowski always are up for great conversation.  I met several new creative folks.  I will be checking into more of their works, too.

It would be easy for me to just say the convention was great.  As the "Production Coordinator," you'd assume I'd say it anyway.  The truth of the matter is that I did have a great time at Dark History Con.

I won't go overboard.  It wasn't the biggest, the best, the most celebrity-packed of cons, but it never claimed to be.  This was the second year and from all reports, it far exceeded the first year.  Even putting that aside, if I just judged it by itself, it was a success.

One of my measuring sticks is that I did not want to leave.  The celebrity guests were just so nice and interesting.  They were there to sell merchandise, but they were also there to talk.

One other sign of the success was that as I was driving home, I replayed a lot of the conversations I had there.  You usually don't get that much time to talk to the guests and when you do, they usually are not quite that willing to talk at length.

My hat is off to Brian, who worked tirelessly to make this a fun con.  I heard praise from him from many of the guests and attendees.  As a reporter (and a supporter), I asked a lot of questions and I got nothing but positive answers.

I want to thank Brian for the opportunity to be a very small part of Dark History Con.  I want to promise him I will do even more to help next year (if he wants me involved again).  Finally, I encourage all to check out DarkHistoryCon.com and the Dark History Con Facebook page and to get excited about Dark History Con 2016.

Brian Ward and me in Champaign, IL-September 2015.

"Interviewing" Adrienne Barbeau

At Wizard World Chicago, actress Adrienne Barbeau was on my short list of interview requests.  Unfortunately, I did not get to formally interview her,. but I did get to talk to her at length, which really was plenty of fun in itself.

One of Adrienne's earliest and best-known roles was as Maude's daughter Carol Traynor in television's "Maude."  Adrienne was quite a sex symbol back then, yet "Carol" was an independent, strong woman.  I wanted to ask her about that juxtaposition.  Did her being a sex symbol conflict with her wanting to portray Carol in certain light.

Adrienne retold the story that is in her book "There are Worse Things I Could Do."  She didn't realize just how much of a sex symbol she was.  She didn't realize that a lot of her scenes on "Maude" involved walking down the stairs, running or other such things which would cause her to bounce a bit.  She also didn't realize that it wasn't so much her athletic ability that landed her on the various "Battle of the Network Stars" competitions, but rather her physical assets.

I just found it interesting that Carol was so opposite of just a sex symbol.  I think if Carol was more fully developed (sorry, no pun intended), we would know that she was okay with being both a sex symbol and a very strong woman of the 1970's.  Carol could have it both ways, just like Adrienne did.

As big as "Maude" was and as popular as Carol was, Adrienne is better known to comic con fans for her roles in several horror films, like "The Thing" and "Creepshow."  Of course, some also fondly recall her role in "The Cannonball Run."

At 70, Adrienne was still looking incredible.  I really have no idea if she has had any surgeries, but I can tell you she looks quite natural.  Even better, she was super sweet and very funny.  It was a pleasure meeting and talking to her.

Adrienne Barbeau and me in Rosemont, IL-August 2015.

On the Beat at Resistance Pro's "Rolling Thunder"

Last Saturday, Resistance Pro returned with Rolling Thunder.  This was also the annual Samuel J. Thompson Memorial show.  It was a night of high emotion and great action.  It was a night to remember and cherish.
My recap of tehe action can be found on Tru School Sports at On the Beat at Resistance Pro's "Rolling Thunder."  For here and now, I want to discuss RPro, Sam and the Thompson family.
RPro is like family to me.  Co-owners Gabe and Jacques Baron, their families, the wrestlers, the staffers and everyone else involved is like part of my family.  I look forward to seeing them every show.  I get a little sad leaving them.  There are hugs, handshakes, smiles and laughter.  It really has been a great experience for me and everyone else.
I have written about Sam Thompson a few times.  I barely knew him, but I fel fortunate that I did know him.  He was one of my first contacts at RPro.  Sam was a brave and fun guy.  His "never give up" spirit lives on in each of us.  That is always most obvious at these Samuel J. Thompson Memorial shows, but it is with us daily, even when we are away from RPro.
Sam was an incredible person and his whole family are wonderful people, too.  RPro broadcaster and Sam's brother Zach is one of the funniest, kindest people I have ever met.  Likewise, Mr. and Mrs. Thompson, Katie (his sister) and all of the other Thompson contingent are just great people.  It's a family filled with love for each other and everyone else.  I am blessed to know and be friends with all of them.
The Thompson family, and this night represent all that is good in the world.  I am grateful to be a small part of this and I truly soak it all in every show.
I am sure Sammy enjoys it all, too.  Bless you Sammy, as you have blessed us.

Crazy Mary Dobson and the Thompson family in Lockport, IL-September 2015.

Working With Mike Toomey

I ran into Mike Toomey at a Hollywood Celebrities Show.  Mike was filming stuff for WGN and I was doing my usual bit for Johngy's Beat.  As my old friend Chuck says, "Just a couple of professionals."

The truth is Mike is what Johngy's Beat would love to be.  He's been successfully doing his stuff since the early 1980's.  Whether comedy, announcing, news work, interviews or anything else, Mike has been entertaining fans for a long time.

Johngy's Beat has only been around since 2008, but I like to think I have been entertaining family and friends since birth, although they might disagree.  Either way, Johngy's Beat is relatively new compared to an entertainment vet like Mike.

I first met Mike through his connection with PsychoBabbleTV.  It is a small world.  At the Hollywood Celebrities Show, we reconnected, but he did not bring me on board for his WGN work.  Of course, I did not expect him to invite me into his WGN interviews (but I would have loved to have been part of any of it).

In reality, he cool part was that although Chuck jokes about it, Mike and I were actually two professionals doing our job.  I might not be on Mike's level, but yet I was still in the game doing my thing.  It was a good moment for me.

Mike Toomey and me in Rosemont, IL-March 2015.

Kassie DePaiva Loves Johngy's Beat

A month ago, I had the pleasure of interviewing Kassie DePaiva at Wizard World.  That interview with Kassie can be found at On the Beat with Kassie DePaiva at Wizard World.
While most of the people seeing her were fans of hers from "Evil Dead II," I openly admitted to following her career on "One Life to Live."  She played Blair Cramer for so many years and was like part of your family or friend circle.  It really was sad when OLTL went off the air.

After the interview, Kassie was kind enough to do a promo for Johngy's Beat.  That promo is below and also is taking its rightful place in the left column of promos.

Friendly Encounters: Shifty Shiffman Meets Emily Allard

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

Irwin "Shifty" Shiffman is quite a character.  He is said to be the longest tenured member of the Chicago Bandits organization.  When the team was formed, Shifty was there and he is at most every game.

He is part of the great customer relations of the Bandits.  He can often be seen helping people, chatting with fans and doing anything he can to make the Bandits experience a great one.

Emily Allard is one of the outfielders on the Bandits.  The second year pro batted .294 last season in helping the Bandits win the NPF (National Pro Fastpitch) title.  On a team of popular women, Emily is one of the most popular.  The young fans especially love her.

Shifty took the opportunity to get dressed up and pose with Emily at the Bandits Awards banquet and Johngy's Beat was there to capture the moment.  Looking good Shifty.  Of course, anyone would look good with a beautiful, athletic woman by your side.

This was just another in a ton of great memories from the 2015 season.  I am already looking forward to 2016.

and Wmily Allard in Rosemont, IL-August 2015.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #239 Velvet Sky & Hayden Panettiere

Pro athletes have trading cards.  I think celebrities need trading cards, too.  This week, I continue my theme of featuring the opponent of the Bears.

I promised more Velvet Sky and I am delivering more Velvet Sky.  This time, Velvet is repping the Arizona Cardinals on her Celebrity Jersey Card.  The Velvety One is wearing Larry Fitzgerald's #11, but I am listing her at Quarterback.  All I know is that if Velvet made a pass at me, I wouldn't drop the ball.

Hayden Panettiere was last seen wearing a San Francisco 49ers jersey.  On this Celebrity Jersey Card, HP is seen sporting the Cardinals jersey.  My sources tell me she is a Cardinals fan, but my sources last year said she was a Niners fan.  Who knows?  Still, this card has that old school feel to it.

Culture Shock with Tony Cosgrove

Continuing our coverage of Days of the Dead Culture Shock, today we highlight artist Tony Cosgrove.  How can you not like an artist whose website is entitled "Sicko Art?"

Despite the website name, all of Cosgrove's work isn't "sicko," although there is plenty of that, too.  Actually, his creation of Batman and Robin with The Riddler, The Joker, Penguin and Catwoman is what originally caught my attention.  This would be cool for any Batman fan.

Upon further review of his works, I saw a really unique piece on "They Live," an exclusive piece for the Days of the Dead show.  With Rowdy Roddy Piper just a few feet away, this would have been cool to have Piper sign it.  I also saw an incredible work of Rocky Balboa fighting Apollo Creed, he did with a Bic mechanical pencil

Cosgrove also does some "sicko art," of course.  I saw monsters, ghouls, blood, gore and more.  They were quite popular at the horror con.

His gallery includes work done in pencil, pen, digital and other forms.  He has done exceptional work on skateboards, something not seen too often.  His tattoo work is also quite impressive.

Cosgrove does commissions, too.  I loved the commission he did of "Pinhead."

Check out SickoArt.com (the Art of Tony Cosgrove) and the Art of Tony Cosgrove Facebook page for more info and updates.

Tony Cosgrove and me in Indianapolis, IN-February 2015.

(Jessicka) Havok at Resistance Pro

At the last Resistance Pro event, I had the pleasure of driving Jessicka Havok to the venue.  I was a last minute sub for the regular driver.  It was the most fun I have ever had driving to an event.  Havok is a real treasure.

Figuring she was tired from her flight and not knowing her anyway, I decided to let her steer the conversation (or to choose quiet, if she desired).  She started talking and and the rest of the drive was filled with her wrestling stories, thoughts on wrestling and other fun non-wrestling topics.  There really wasn't any dead time.

At the show, I had the pleasure of interviewing Havok and then even more fun watching her and Crazy Mary Dobson put on the Match of the Night, as the women of RPro usually do.  In the interview, Havok discusses why she is at RPro and why she wants to be a part of RPro ona regular basis.

I would love to see Havok at RPro regularly.  Her passion is palpable and her abilities are evident.  She is the real deal and she belongs at RPro.  I am just imagining the great matches she would have.

Havok would continue the long line of great women wrestlers to come through RPro.  There is no doubt that she would eventually win the Women's title.  She is that good.

Kudos to RPro for continuing to raise the bar on women's wrestling.  The women's division at RPro is not full of divas.  It is full of beautiful, athletic, talented women, who usually deliver "Match of the Night" candidates regularly.

If you haven't been to an RPro show, get to one.  As a matter of fact, "Rolling Thunder" is Saturday, September 19 and it will feature a women's tournament in which Crazy Mary has put up her women's title.

Jessicka Havok and me in Willowbrook, IL-August 2015.

C2E2 With Dan Parent

Dan Parent is a comic book artist and writer, most known for working on the Archie Comics.  This is one man I had to meet at C2E2 2015.

Archie brings me back to a simpler time.  Archie, Moose, Jughead, Veronica, Betty and the rest were a huge part of my generation's childhood.  Whether in comic book form on cartoons, we all followed the adventures of the gang in Riverdale.

Parent has done excellent and relevant work with Archie over the years.  Perhaps his most important contribution was introducing Kevin Keller, the first openly gay character in the Archie universe.  It wasn't just a controversial story for the sake of marketing.  It was written so well that he was awarded the GLAAD Media Award for Outstanding Comic Book.  It is simple, yet huge steps like this which really affect change in the world.

Of course, all of Parent's storylines aren't as serious as the Keller one.  There are still plenty of other ones featuring the normal hijinx of the Archie gang.  I shpould have asked, but I wonder if Parent knows why Jughead wears that crown?

For more info on Parent, head over to DanParent.com.  The site is loaded with cool Archie stuff, like comic book announcements, an Archie store, Parent's convention schedule and a lot more.  You can even get "Archie-fied," by having Parent draw you as an Archie-style character.  How cool would that be?!

Dan Parent and me in Chicago, IL-April 2015.

What Happens in Las Vegas...

My friends and I have made baseball trips since 2001.  This year, we were undecided on our destination until my brother-in-law Scott put together a Las Vegas trip for my nephew Matt's bachelor party.

The Boys of Summer left a day early, flew into Phoenix and saw the Diamondbacks defeat the San Francisco Giants.  On Thursday, we drove to Las Vegas and met up with the rest as the celebration began.

This was a trip of a lifetime.  The "Boys" include Chuck, Jason, JayHawk, Jim and me.  The rest included Louie, Scott, Matt, Kyle, Marty, Tom, Dave and Michael.  That is a baker's dozen of good friends and family.  Just getting that many guys together in Vegas was amazing.  The time we had out there was unforgettable.

Major kudos go to Scott for organizing everything.  The planning and effort he put into this was off the charts.  The food was delicious and everything else was highly enjoyable.  Things could not have run smoother.

For me, it is never about what we do, but more about doing it with great people.  I am blessed to have such a wonderful family and several awesome friends.  During the trip, we all interacted with everyone at some point or another.  It was just a seamless, fun experience start to finish.

I also have to mention a friend I made at the California while playing Pai Gow.  I have no idea if she will read this.  I did shamelessly give her my business card (but only when she doubted I was actually "Johngy").  I had a blast that night, even though she punched me and may or may not have "lied" to me several times.

You need to grab these moments when you can.  Trips like this, with friends like these, do not come along often.  I am not always a happy guy, but I have learned to really soak in these moments.

Thanks to everyone who contributed.  Next stop...Matt's wedding.

Everyone in Las Vegas, NV-September 2015.

Author and Fan Michael West

Michael West is the bestselling author of of such books as Cinema of Shadows, Spook House, Skull Full of Kisses and the Legacy of the Gods series.  A frequent celebrity guest at conventions, the native Indianan is also a fan when he is not "on duty."

Michael is a great guy.  I have had the pleasure of interviewing him several times and just talking to him on many occasions.  How this soft-spoken gentleman comes up with this twisted literature s beyond me, but he does it well.

My first trip into his mind was Spook House, about old man Fuller, who conducted bizarre rituals in his house.  After Fuller gets killed on his land, his house remained as a testament to the gruesome acts.  Terrifying events ensure and I was gripped by every page.  This was an enjoyable ride through terror.

His other books are just as engrossing and terror-filled.  I plan on working my way through his entire bibliography!

I always keep my eyes open for Michael at any such convention, especially in the IN-IL area.  If you can't see him at a con, go to ByMichaelWest.com and check out his many offerings and get updates.

Michael West and me in Indianapolis, IN-June 2015.

Friendly Encounters: David Herro (and Kevin Nash) Meet Johnny Bench

Friendly Encounters is a weekly series about friends who have met celebrities.

David Herro isn't just a fiend.  As his shirt proclaims, he is a "#SuperFriend."  His shirt doesn't lie either.  David has been a friend of Johngy's Beat for several years.
There aren't many wrestling shows or promoters who can get me to drive 100 miles to see a show.  David and his Great Lakes Championship Wrestling is a rarity indeed.
Every December, Herro puts on "Blizzard Brawl" and this December 5, will be another great GLCW event.  Chyna is a special guest this year.  She joins such wrestling stars as Al Snow, Abyss, Scotty 2 Hotty and many others.  I am also looking forward to seeing Melanie Cruise, one of the best independent women wrestlers today.
At a recent convention, David was accompanied by #SuperFriend Kevin Nash, when they met Johnny Bench, baseball Hall of Famer.  Bench was "the man" when I was growing up.  He was the best and the coolest.  The picture below represents quite an assemblage of talent.  More important, it represents three good dudes.
I hope you make plans to attend Blizzard Brawl.  Johnny Bench won't be there (or maybe he will), but Johngy will be!

Kevin Nash, Johnny Bench and David Herro in Louisville, KY-August 2015.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #238 AliSin Chains & Velvet Sky

This is a recurring series whereby I try to combine my love of trading cards with my semi-professional interest in celebrities.  As the Bears open their season against the Green Bay Packers, I am featuring two celebrities who really look fantastic in the green and gold, making me dislike the Packers a lot less.

AliSin Chains is a native of Wisconsin and a longtime flat track roller derby star.  I had the pleasure of watching her play with the Windy City Rollers.  She explains her Packers jersey in my interview can be found at On the Beat with AliSin Chains.  AliSin is no longer with WCR and I really miss her.  She gets extra points for showing a helmet on her Celebrity Jersey Card, but AliSin doesn't need the extra points.  She already was one of my very favorites from the WCR!   AliSin, if you read this, thanks for the memories!

When we last saw wrestler Velvet Sky, she was modeling a New England Patriots Tom Brady jersey.  While some Bears fans might argue this, I think she upgraded her gear in this latest Celebrity Jersey Card.  Spoiler alert: We will be featuring Velvet modeling several other jerseys during this NFL season.

Clowning Around at Days of the Dead

Are you a clown person or are you afraid of clowns?  Funny and entertaining or creepy and creepier?  I find them a bit of all of the above.

At Days of the Dead in Indianapolis, IN, I ran into a group of clowns (does a group of clowns have a name, like "a "gaggle" of clowns).  These were not the happy, joyous clowns.  These were the terrorizing, frightening clowns.  I actually saw some young kids scared of them.  To be honest, I think the clowns actually liked that response, too.  Sick clowns!

This is the type of fun to be had at these cons.  They gladly posed for pictures all day long.  Of course, when you put together a great costume, you better be prepared for photo requests all day.

I think that is really the reason they attend these cons.  I don't remember seeing any of them going to meet the celebrities.  I never really thought of that until now.  Of course, next time I will have to ask one to see (and then I will hope he doesn't kill me for fun).

The Clowns and me in Indianapolis, IN-June 2015.

C2E2 With Carla Wyzgala

While wandering the Artist Alley at C2E2 2015, I was fascinated by the art of Carla Wyzgala.  I quickly learned that she is an artist from Chicago.

Carla specializes in watercolors and pinup ladies, but she is not limited to just that.  She is an illustrator for graphic novels and the web comic Surreality and she does commissions, as well.

One of my favorite pieces from Carla is entitled "7Dead".  It is a seven panel piece, with each panel featuring a woman drawn in a different color.  It represents the seven deadly sins.  I find it intriguing and enchanting.

Of course, she has tons of other beautiful pieces, too.  I really love Unmasked Batgirl, Star Wars Stormtrooper Helmet pin up, Chicago Blackhawks pin up girl and too many more to list here.  I do have to also mention her Classic Superman art print.

Her pinup creations are tasteful and wonderful.  They are mystical and magical.  They really draw in the viewer.  Can you tell I have become a big fan?

Check out Carlations.net to see her great work and get her updates and follow Carla Wyzgala on twitter, too.  There are also links on her site to purchase her fantastic work.

Carla Wyzgala and me in Chicago, IL-April 2015.

Cards That Never Were: Jerry Moses 1976 Topps

"Cards That Never Were" is a recurring series in which I create virtual trading cards in an effort to correct omissions from various Topps sets over the years.  I borrowed the concept from too many others to list, but I thank them all.

Jerry Moses is the perfect subject for a "Cards That Never Were" feature.  He spent most of his 9 year major league career as a backup catcher.  He finished out his career with 2 games for the 1975 Chicago White Sox.  You would think finding any picture from his two game stint would be impossible, but I found one and created his 1976 Topps card that should have been.  Ironically, the picture (and card) shows him catching, but he only appeared at 1st base and Designated Hitter with the Sox.
Okay, maybe his 2 games did not merit a Topps card.  He was released in September of the 1975 season, which is another reason for his exclusion in the 1976 set.  Still, as a backup catcher, who played for my then-beloved Sox, who wore the coolest uniforms, I decided Moses deserved a 1976 card.
Moses broke in with the Boston Red Sox in 1965.  After a couple seasons back in the minors, Moses appeared for the Red Sox in 1968 and played parts of every season through 1975 in the majors.  In his last six seasons, Moses played for seven teams.
I love this card, with all of its' powder blue and red glory.  Now, if only I could find a picture of Phil Roof who appeared in 4 games with the Sox in 1976.

Celebrity Jersey Cards #237 Joseph Gordon-Levitt & Dennis Quaid

Athletes get trading cards.  Why not celebrities?  At least celebrities wearing athletic jerseys should get cards.  I am doing my best to create cards for jersey-clad celebs.

Actor Joseph Gordon-Levitt was born in Los Angeles, CA and one of his first roles was in "Angels in the Outfield."  He wore an Angels uniform in that movie.  I don't know if he was even a baseball fan, but how cool would that be to play a member of your hometown team in a movie?  He went on to co-star in "3rd Rock From the Sun" and many other projects.  I like his starring role on Celebrity Jersey Cards!

Actor Dennis Quaid has had a successful career, but I am most impressed that he was once married to PJ Soles.  I give him points for that above all.  He is a noted Mets fan.  He gets extra points for wearing a Mets cap and for signing a baseball on his Celebrity Jersey Card.  Also, I think he is wearing #7.  Could that be a tribute to Ed Kranepool?

Blizzard Brawl Is A-Comin'

Three months from now, on Saturday, December 5, at the Waukesha County Expo, there will be a Blizzard Brawl.  This is the brainchild of Wisconsin wrestling promoter David Herro.

I have known David for a long time.  He's one of the good guys.  In fact, you might say he is a "Superfriend."  Okay, actually, he says he is a superfriend and his supporters, friends, fans and family are also superfriends.  I am proud to say that I am a superfriend, too.  I even have a special edition Johngy Superfriends shirt!

I have gone to Blizzard Brawl a few times over the years.  Believe me, if my schedule allows it, I am there.  It is a great show filled with wrestling legends and fun matches.  Iy is always an entertaining show.

Over the years, I have met such legends as Gene Okerlund, Ron Simmons, Kevin Nash, Al Snow (will Mick Foley scold me for calling Al a legend?), Terri Runnels and more.  I have also seen some wrestling friends in action, including Chazz Moretti, Melanie Cruise and Ruff Crossing.

It's a fantastic event, attended by true wrestling fans.  It is well-run by Herro and his staff.  The legends appearing are always very fan-friendly.  You really couldn't want more out of a wrestling show.

This year's first headliner named was Chyna.  I have never met the "9th Wonder of the World," but I am really looking forward to seeing her.

I'm planning on attending Blizzard Brawl 2015.  I hope to see a lot of you there, too.  For more info, head over to Blizzard Brawl.

David Herro and me in Chicago, IL-April 2015.

Friendly Encounters: Alli Alberts and Jack Keenan

This is a weekly series featuring friends who have met celebrities.

Jack Keenan has done a great job as my ace photographer and videographer for the Johngy's Beat coverage of the Chicago Bliss.  Alli Alberts has done a great job as safety-wide receiver on the 2x Legends Football League champions.

Alli got some exposure this season in the LFL, but she is still very underrated.  On a team like the Bliss, it is easy to get overshadowed by stars like Heather Furr and ChrisDell Harris, but Alli has earned her place next to them. 

This isn't about the other not deserving the spotlight.  It is just about Alli deserving a bit of it.  Maybe the Bliss need a bigger spotlight.

I tried to give put a spotlight on them.  I tried for three seasons to give the team the credit, respect and coverage that they deserve.  It has been a blast all the way.  Not only did I get great access from the team, I got to watch these elite athletes up close and was privy to some inside strategy courtesy of the coaching staff.  I had a ton of fun and wouldn't trade the experience for anything.

Alli was always up for a good interview.  All of the women were.  I have nothing but praise for the ladies of the Bliss.  They are a great blend of beauty, brains, athleticism and humor.

The Bliss lost to the Seattle Mist in the LFL championship game a few weeks ago.  This ended their hopes of a threepeat, but it does not diminish all they have accomplished.  It also does not stop their dominance.  They will be back strong in 2016.

Jack Keenan and Alli Alberts in Bridgeview, IL-April 2015.

On the Chicago Bears Beat

Thanks to the hospitality of the Chicago Bears, I watched from the Press Box, as the Bears hosted the Cleveland Browns.  It was a toasty Chicago September night, but I was cool and comfortable in the Press Box, along with being ready to cover the Bears for the first time.

I arrived three hours before kickoff.  I love being in an empty stadium and watching it come alive.  This was especially cool considering the view from the Press Box.

I also got to see the Press Box come alive, as familiar faces and voices from Chicago sports reporting arrived and took their places on Press Row.  I reconnected with Les Grobstein, who I knew from covering the Chicago Rush, along with listening to him for most of my life.  I also met WSCR's David Schuster, WBBM's Dave Kerner, ChicagoFootball.com's Hub Arkush and many others.  It was pretty cool seeing them all in one spot, but it was even better to be one of them for this game.  As my friend Chuck always says, "We're all professionals."

The Press Box itself is very nice.  My seat was located in the second row.  There were two or three rows deep, along with a large eating area and another area where the food was.  It was one of the more comfortable Press Boxes I have experienced.

The Suite level was very nice, too.  I peeked into a couple of the suites and was very impressed there, too.  The Soldier Field staffers were extremely friendly and helpful.  The views over the lake and south of Soldier Field were incredible.  I love this city!

The Bears beat the Browns 24-0.  David Fales, who figures to be the #3 Bears quarterback, went 14-18 for 131 yards, two touchdowns and no interceptions.  It was an impressive performance, but it was also in a relatively meaningless fourth preseason game which featured mostly reserves fighting for roster spots.  Fales did a nice job, but let's keep it all in perspective.  Still, it is nice to see him show signs of potential.

Ka'Deem Carey gained 68 yards on 12 carries, while Jeremy Langford gained 55 yards on 9 carries.  Of course, in the regular season, Matt Forte will shoulder the load, but again, it is good to see potential from the younger players.

The Bears went 5-11 last season.  They brought in John Fox as their new coach.  Not much is expected of the Bears this season.  I have heard guesses ranging from 3 wins to 10 wins.  Unlike a lot of Bears fans though, I find this exciting.

The Bears are definitely in a rebuild mode, but things can happen quickly.  This is a chance to see the Bears build a winner.  This is a chance to watch the Bears build towards sustained excellence.  I don't see them patching things together for a quick fix.  I see them wanting to be a contender every season.  I accept that their play might be mediocre at times, but I see the future.

I hope the fans continue to support this team.  Anyone can support them when they are in the playoffs.  Stay on board now and enjoy the ride.

Finally, I'd like to mention that I talked to longtime Chicago sports reporter John "Moon" Mullin of Comcast Sportsnet Chicago.  I have also enjoyed his reports on WSCR.  It was a pleasure to meet such a respected journalist.  "Moon" could not have been any nice, too!

I look forward to covering more Bears games in the future.  I appreciate the opportunity the Bears gave me and I thank them for everything.

John Mullin and me in Chicago, IL-September 2015.

Jar Jar Wars Starring Johngy as CU L8R

I always look forward to seeing James Finn Garner and Paul Erickson at Wizard World.  Over the years, I have interviewed each and have become friends with them.  They are two of the most entertaining people I have ever met (and these comic cons are full of entertaining people).

At the Chicago Wizard World, Paul was talking about "Jar Jar Wars," his newest parody.  He asked me if I would have any interest in playing a small part in a panel event later in the convention.  Would I have any interest?  Oh heck yes!  Not only does my massive ego demand I participate, but my quest for fun was tickled.

"Jar Jar Wars" is Paul's attempt to help George Lucas make that Star Wars thing a bit more successful.  Actually, I will let Paul explain, "At this event we will review two ways George Lucas (writer-director of the films "THX 1138" and "American Graffiti") could finally get the recognition he deserves for an obscure science fiction/fantasy film he made in 1977. First, he could fix the weak science (Sound in space? The Kessel Run in twelve parsecs?) and strange plot elements (No medal for Chewbacca?). Second, he could make it easier for us to identify with the weird characters (A wizard, a sasquatch, and a guy in a black diving helmet?)."

Paul showed me my lines and I committed them to memory.  I was determined to nail this part (and hopefully set myself up for future roles in Paul's "productions").

As I sat on stage, I saw the room fill with people.  There had to be about 250 people or so in attendance.  I was surrounded by real talent, too.  Could I possibly hold my own amongst this assemblage?

The moment came for my part and I started off well, but flubbed it a bit, before recovering and finishing strong.  I maintain that I was prepared, but I got thrown off my game (I have game?) by the humor all around.  I was literally cracking up through the entire segment.

In all seriousness, I was tickled to be a part of this.  Years ago, when I met these guys, I never figured I would become part of this.  This is testament to what good guys they are and also to what can happen and develop from these conventions.  Thank you Paul for a fun experience.

I strongly encourage everyone to check out Jar Jars Wars on Facebook.  You'll get info and updates there.  You might want to save yourself the trouble and just buy the book already!  You will want it once you get hooked.

This piece was mostly about Paul and "Jar Jar Wars," but the man to my left has a cool book series centered on Rex Koko, private clown.  While clown noir might be a strange concept, it is even stranger in reality and it is awesome!  I have all three of his books and I highly recommend you check out JamesFinnGarner.com to learn all about him, too.

The Nerd Readers Theatre Ensemble in Rosemont, IL-August 2015.

On the Beat with "Tales of Halloween" at Wizard World Chicago 2015

At Wizard World Chicago 2015, Johngy's Beat Special Reporter Scott Steiner and I had the pleasure of getting a lot of insider's views on feature film "Tales of Halloween," which is to be opening nationwide on October 16.  We interviewed Writer-Director Axelle Carolyn, Writer-Director Mike Mendez and Actor Barry Bostwick.  We also talked to Actress Cerina Vincent and Actress Adrienne Barbeau.  That's a lot of talent and we are excited about the interviews and the movie.

"Tales of Halloween" is comprised of ten stories occurring on Halloween night in the same town.  There are some links to the stories and there are also character crossovers at times, but each story stands alone in all it's frightening glory.

The movie also boasts several appearances of varying lengths of many familiar faces.  I won't reveal them, because I don't want to spoil the fun, but a keen eye will spot the Directors mixed in there.  You can always check out the "Tales of Halloween" IMDB page for that info.

In the interview below, Director-Writers Axelle Carolyn and Mike Mendez give us a little preview of what to expect, along with other interesting info.  There is also a quick bit of our other interview with Actor Barry Bostwick.

Everyone is very excited about "Tales of Halloween."  Aside from the people we "officially" interviewed, we talked to Actresses Cerina Vincent and Adrienne Barbeau.  One recurring theme is that the movie is done in an old-school manner, relying on multi-layered stories with subtle touches added.  It isn't a standard horror slasher gorefest.

The makeup and special effects were praised for their realism without going over-the-top with technology.  It has the feel of a horror movie from way back, with a modern look.

Vincent and Barbeau joined Bostwick in his enthusiasm and excitement over "Tales of Halloween."  I have been around this stuff log enough to know that they are really happy about the project and not just out on a publicity tour.

While we were unfortunately unable to attend the debut of "Tales of Halloween" at Wizard World, plenty of our friends went and loved the movie.  One bud said he hadn't seen a movie like this since childhood.  Another needs to see it again to catch all of the cameos and appearances.  By all accounts, "Tales of Halloween" is going to be a winner.  I know on October 16, I will be sitting with my big Coke in a movie theater.

You can check out the "Tales of Halloween' trailer on YouTube.  You can also check out the "Tales of Halloween" Facebook page for info and updates.

Happy Birthday Big Money

Today is my nephew Matt Parker's birthday.  It is an important one.  It is his last birthday as a single man.  Matt will be getting married to Erin in October.

Matt and Erin knew each other as kids, but started dating when Matt moved back to Chicago from Houston.  They got engaged and are about to really start their lives together.

Next week in Las Vegas, we will celebrate Matt's birthday and his upcoming nuptials.  Pai Gow, Sunday NFL action, silly bets and lots of fun will be shared by all of us.  Then, one month later, we will all gather again at Matt and Erin's wedding, where we will celebrate again.  This is going to be a month of goodness.

I would do anything to beat Matt in our silly bets.  I am just that petty.  On the other end though, I love this kid (young man) and would do anything for him.

Happy birthday Matt.  Enjoy your day with your bride-to-be.  See you soon out west!

Erin Galligan and Matt Parker in Chicago, IL-Summer 2013.

On the Beat with Chris 51 and Josh Bodwell at Wizard World Chicago 2015

"Epic Ink" premiered on the A&E Network about one year ago.  Two of the stars of the show are Chris 51 (tattoo artist and owner of the Oregon tattoo shop) and Josh Bodwell (tattoo artist on staff).  I had the pleasure of interviewing these two at the Wizard World Press Reception prior to the actual convention.

Chris and Josh were about as loose and funny as anyone I have ever met at any such media event.  I got the first interview with the pair and I had a lot of fun with it.

We talked about their start in the tattoo business, their strangest tattoo requests, the Chicago Cubs and other fun stuff.  Chris is not a fair-weather Cubs fan either.  He had his own personalized "Chris 51" jersey.  I ordinarily am against personalized jerseys, but with his name-number combo, this one worked.

We also talked about the tattoo Chris has on his stomach.  This one cracked me up.  They both also swear that they have the answer to one of the great Simpsons' mysteries, but you'll have to watch the interview to see what that is.

Thanks as always to Wizard World for treating the press so well.  Thanks, too, to Chris and Josh for being great interview subjects.

On the Beat with Jodie Sweetin at Wizard World Chicago 2015

At Wizard World Chicago 2015, Jodie Sweetin was one of my top interview targets.  Thanks to the work of Wizard World PR King Jerry Milani, I was able to get her first interview at the con.

Jodie costarred in "Full House," the immensely popular television show of several years back.  Like a lot of child stars, she encountered some personal problems, but fortunately has overcome her issues and has rebounded well.  She will be resuming her role as "Stephanie Tanner" in the upcoming "Fuller House."

It's always funny.  No matter how many of these I do, I end up thinking, "Wow, I'm talking to Stephanie Tanner" (or whatever role the person played).  Maybe the younger generation is more accustomed to this sort of thing, but in my younger years, such interaction would never be thought possible.  It was a thrill to meet just one of your favorites.

The first thing that struck me is that Jodie is incredibly cute.  She grew from a cute girl to a beautiful young woman.

As I started to talk to her, she came across as a very articulate, poised person.  We talked about being on the set of "Full House" with so many talented grown-ups, as well as reprising her role on "Fuller House."  She even talked a bit about overcoming her problems and revealing things in her book "Un-Sweetined."  I have read that book and I found her candor refreshing and interesting.

I walked away from the interview feeling good about things.  Something felt right that little Stephanie Tanner was in a good place.

Thank you to Wizard World for this opportunity.  Thank you to Jodie Sweetin for her time, consideration and for many years of entertainment.  Here's hoping for much future success!