Dick Allen's Missing Cards

I have written a few pieces about blogger-created baseball cards. I have even attempted one myself. I really am fascinated by these cards.
For whatever reason, Dick Allen popped into my mind. Allen had an excellent 15 year career, which ended after his 1977 season with the Oakland A's. Allen did not get a 1978 Topps card, even though he had a decent '77 season in a platoon role for the A's. More surprisingly, he didn't even have a 1977 card, despite having a solid season in '76 with the Philadelphia Phillies.
The 1976 Allen card showed him in a Phillies uniform. I couldn't recall ever seeing Allen in an A's uniform. So I started searching for one. Not only did I find a great picture of a green and gold clad Allen, I found a great site and 2 blogger created Allen cards, one for '77 and one for '78!
Andy runs 'Dick Allen Hall of Fame', a site dedicated to celebrating the career of Allen and adding more force to Allen's HOF cause. Andy has some great Allen photos, including a cool shot of Allen and his brother/White Sox teammate Hank. Andy also has created a few Allen cards, including the missing 1977 and 1978 Topps cards.
The '77 card would be Allen's final card in a Phillies uniform, while the '78 card would be Allen's last card and would serve as a tribute card. Andy stated that he might create other versions of the '78. If that happens, I will be sure to highlight those in the future. Until then, I hope you enjoy these as much as I do and that you'll stop by Andy's site and read all about the most deserving player not enshrined in the Hall of Fame.

The Blueprint:Matt Morgan

As I have written before, the heights and weights of wrestlers have been 'adjusted' to fit whatever role they had at the time. Most are inflated, although some might have been deflated to give them the underdog feel.
Matt Morgan wrestles for TNA and is billed at 6'10". I'd say that is darn close to accurate.
When I met Morgan at the Ultimate Collectibles Show, I was stunned at how big Morgan was. Standing next to him was like standing under a tree. I wish my photog got a better shot, but Morgan's size is obvious anyway. He's huge!
I was also surprised with how friendly he was. I commented that I really thought his overall character development and in-ring work seemed to be improving and he thanked me several times and asked me to elaborate, which I did. He seemed genuinely interest and delighted in my comments.
Morgan seems like a guy who works very hard at his profession. He seems to listen to fans and critics and he seems to want to really learn and improve.

Matt Morgan and me in Oaks, PA-October 2009.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

I have seen pictures of Ira Knobler with various wrestlers on many sites. Recently while perusing Michele Mupo's site, I came across Ira again and decided to ask him to share one of his experiences.
I was working for a magazine, in which I interviewed David Smith's mother Diana Hart. When I got to the Hart Dynasty signing at the Cold Stone Creamery, David remembered me from his mom, from I guess a picture with him and his mom from a convention or because we are friends on Facebook.
This Hart Dynasty is actually a second generation of the Hart family, consisting of Nattie Neidhart, David (DH) Smith and TJ (Tyson Kidd) Wilson. David is the son of the late British Bulldog Davey Boy Smith. Nattie is the daughter of Jim Neidhart. TJ is Nat's boyfriend. All currently wrestle for the WWE.
Ira's site is MarkedOut.com and is loaded with pictures, stories and events announcements. It's a fantastic treat for wrestling fans, but it goes outside of the squared circle, too. There are hundreds of searchable pictures among everything else.
I hope Ira will be willing to share more of his stories and pictures in the future. Thanks, Ira!

Nattie Neidhart, TJ Wilson (Tyson Kidd), DH Smith and Ira Knobler in NY-September 2009.

Bear Down Sunday #8

Today the Chicago Bears face the Arizona Cardinals. The Bears stand at 4-3, as do last years NFC champion Cardinals.
The best kicker for the Chicago Bears was Kevin Butler (although Robbie Gould is certainly on track to challenge Butler for that title). Butler was a rookie for the Super Bowl Bears and played 11 seasons with the team. He spent the last 2 seasons of his career with the Cardinals.
Butthead is the all-time leader in field goals, points and extra points for the Bears. He was also one of the most popular Bears and one of the last active members of the '85 Bears.
I met Butthead a few times. He was always very cool, sociable and funny.

Kevin Butler in Platteville, IL-August 1994.

Random Interview:Geoff Blum

I have had a lot of fun interviewing players over the last couple years. Of course, I am not a trained journalist (although I worked for a newspaper for 17 years and did some writing). I have to admit though, Geoff Blum came up with a simple answer, but not one that I expected. Perhaps I need to do a little more research before asking any question (although I probably won't).
I did bounce back a bit and seemingly surprised Blum by commenting on his brief tenure with the Chicago White Sox. Players generally do not get complimented by reporters.

Johngy in the 25th Century

Gil Gerard and Erin Gray co-starred on tv's Buck Rogers in the 25th Century. It was a decent show, but probably would be considered cheesy with all of today's technology.
I had a pretty big laugh when I met Gerard at the Motor City Comic Con. A woman approached Gerard, wanting to purchase a signed 8x10. She lifted up her big purse/bag and proceeded to dig through it for her wallet. I guess the bag was heavy, as she started to plop it on the table (right on top of Gerard's assortment of photos.
Gerard tried helping her with the bag (and probably attempted to keep his pictures from being damaged, too). By the time it all ended, Gerard was standing behind his table, completely holding the bag. That would have been a great picture, but I didn't have the heart to do that to him.
However, I did needle him about it when I approached him. He took it all in good spirits and even stated that he appreciated her loyalty, despite the small problem. It was very amusing, but I have to say Gerard handled it well.
Before the picture was taken with him, he called over Erin Gray from the next table to pose with us. I had already met Gray years ago, but Gerard said I should get them together. Who am I to argue with Buck Rogers...especially if he is man enough to hold a purse?!

Gil Gerard, Erin Gray and me in Novi, MI-May 2009.

World Series Tangents:Jorge Luis Posada

The New York Yankees won the World Series for the 4th time in the last 12 years. One constant has been Jorge Posada, their catcher.
Posada has had an excellent career, maybe a couple notches shy of Hall of Fame caliber. However, it is not Posada's baseball accomplishments which attracted my attention. It is his son Jorge Luis.
The eight year old Jorge Luis was born with a condition known as craniosynostosis, a congenital birth defect characterized by the premature closure of the bones in the skull. Yours truly is all too familiar with it, because I lived through it.The main concern is the pressure in the head, which can cause any number of serious problems. Eye problems, brain damage, developmental issues, spine problems and even death can be the result. Medical technology has come a long way since I lived through this nightmare. Detection and early treatment minimize the potential internal damage. Cosmetic procedures are performed to minimize physical abnormalities.
The Posada family founded the Jorge Posada Foundation to raise awareness about cranisosynostosis and to provide financial and emotional assistance to families affected by the condition. The Jorge Posada Foundation continues to gain awareness and gain support, such as their recently forged relationship with the Newark Bears baseball organization.
Jorge has been a great catcher for a lot of years as his onfield accomplishments prove. However, the efforts of the entire Posada family off the field speak loudly of their strength and perserverance. For this, I am a fan of the Posada family and the Posada Foundation.

World Series Tangents:Fran Gallagher

There he is, my guy, Fran Gallagher...at the World Series! Fran Gallagher at the World Series. Game 4! Just like Fran Gallagher was at Super Bowl XLI when the Indianapolis Colts beat my Chicago Bears.
At least in this case, the Phillies are his hometown team. Oh sure, I can say that he probably can't name more than 5 of the current Phillies (and probably no more than 15 Phillies of years gone by). I could also mock his cheese and crackers tailgating effort. But hey, Fran is a good friend and a fun guy. Besides, we have enough fodder to supply us with a lifetime of bantering.
My only real problem with Fran in this case is that he eschewed a potential "Friendly Encounters" appearance with Phillies legend Greg Luzinski. Luzinski has a barbeque joint at the ballpark and gladly poses with fans. This would have been perfect. Luzinski is the Bull and Fran is full of...umm fun!

Fran and Michelle Gallagher at Citizen's Bank Park in Philadelphia, PA-November 2009.

World Series Tangents:Jack Taschner

Jack Taschner is a middle reliever for the Philadelphia Phillies. He has pitched in parts of 5 seasons (4 with the San Francisco Giants), compiling a 9-5 career record. Taschner is not on the postseason roster for the Phils.
I respect players like Taschner. Call him a journeyman, if you'd like, but the game is built on guys like this. He will probably play for a few more years, possibly with a few more teams. He's a baseball guy. He's also a very nice guy.
When we last saw Chuck Gekas, he was waxing poetic on Jerry Manuel in the press box at Citi Field before a game between the Phillies and the New York Mets. Later, Chachi was in the dugout when Taschner returned after a bit of warming up. Taschner almost invited Chachi to interview him. Chachi didn't even move from his seat on the team bench, while Taschner stood in front of him.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

I have previously written about my pal Jake and his burgeoning interest in meeting stars and getting autographs. It is pretty cool to see the excitement in his eyes.
Unfortunately, I was out of town when his mom took him to see Roddy Piper at a PCW event in Oaklawn (IL). With Laurie, I had the surrealistic pleasure of meeting Piper for the first time. I would have loved to see Jake and Laurie with Piper. Instead, they made sure I got a picture and the story.
Laurie noticed something the first time we met Piper. He seems to come alive around children. It is an interesting transformation.
When Jake met Piper, Piper started to recite a bit of Rudyard Kipling. Imagine that. As I wrote before, Piper is very dedicated to literacy (stemming from his own troubles). As evidenced here, he is also dedicated to the youth.
I am glad Jake got the opportunity to meet Piper and to see this side of him. Wrestlers sometimes get a bad rap. Piper is one of a kind. Then again, so is Jake.

Rowdy Roddy Piper and Jake in Oaklawn, IL-June 2009.

Bear Down Sunday #7

The Chicago Bears stand at 3-3 and are 3 wins behind the Vikings who are in 1st place. The Bears face the Cleveland Browns today. With 2 straight losses, the playoffs seem to be a fading dream.
Speaking of fading, below is a very bad photo from about 15 years ago. It was taken in a bowling alley during a charity event.
I had the pleasure of meeting Doug Buffone, one of the most underrated players of his time. Big Doug (aka Uncle Fuzzy) was always overshadowed by Dick Butkus. However, Buffone had an excellent 14 year career in Chicago and has been a presence on tv and the radio for a long time. The Bears could use a little Buffone on their defense right now (stop yourself).

Doug Buffone and me in Arlington Heights, IL-mid 1990's.

Old Times at Platteville

In 1994, 4 Bears fans from Lerner Newspapers and the Chicago area trekked out to Platteville to check out the Chicago Bears during training camp. Those men were Louie Atsaves, Jason Farber, Darryl Corter and me.What a blast we had. It was scorching hot (I think Darryl is still suffering the effects of his sunburn). We sat under the blazing sun and watched a scrimmage. This was right before Coach Dave Wannstedt's 2nd season with the Bears. It would be a 9-7 season and would give Chicago fans hope for good things (which didn't happen).
We ate at a restaurant which only served 'white' pop (which apparently meant no cola beverages). At that same restaurant, Louie ate his potato without even realizing it (he still denies eating it). We also made a trip to the casino boats by the river (was that Dubuque?).
I love the photo below because of the interaction between Wannstedt and his quarterback Steve Walsh (#4). I am assuming Walsh is introducing Wannstedt to his wife. This makes sense, since this was Walsh's first year with the Bears.
I also like that former Bears lineman and Chicago broadcaster Dan Jigggetts can be seen to the left. He is the large man (very large man) in black pants.

After scrimmage at Bears training camp in Platteville, IL-August 1994.

High Fidelity

A few weeks ago, we went to see "High Fidelity", a musical based on the 90's film of the same name starring John Cusack. I had no idea what to expect, but I got much more than I thought I would.
Every performer was simply outstanding (which probably makes no sense by definition). Still, this is my blog, my review and my way. Therefore each was outstanding.
After the show, we hung around the bar area and met several of the performers and the lyricist Amanda Green. They were all very friendly and seemed genuinely touched and pleased that we had such positive comments about each and the show in general.
Unfortunately, the show ended its Chicago run, but the Route 66 Theater Company will continue producing other quality theatre. If given the opportunity, do not pass on Route 66!

Jonathan Wagner, Amanda Green, Stef Tovar and me in Chicago, IL-Sept. 2009.

The Jay Leno Club:Part 2

A couple weeks ago, I wrote about the first group of celebrities to join my Jay Leno Club. To recap, the Jay Leno Club is comprised of celebrities who have mentioned my alleged resemblance to Jay Leno. Currently, the club consisted of Patrick Warburton, Larry Zbyszko, the Honky Tonk Man, Terri Runnels, Brian Knobbs and the Iron Sheik.
After I wrote about my encounter with the Honky Tonk Man at the Motor City Comic Con, the Evil Zebra saw the piece and contacted me. When I knew I would be going to the Ultimate Collectors Show in Oaks (PA), he informed his buddy, King Kong Bundy, that I would be there and looking for him. Bundy was a lot of fun. He also joined the Jay Leno Club by making the reference.
Therefore, without further adieu, I present the 2 newest members of the Jay Leno Club, the Evil Zebra and King Kong Bundy! It is quite fitting that these two wrestling legends should be inducted together.

Ice-T (not Coke)?

I admit, Ice-T is not in my usual field of celebrities I meet. Still, it was very cool to meet this multi-talented man at the Ultimate Collectors Show. Ice-T has done it all, including performing a song for the Godfather of the WWE at Wrestlemania XVI.
I wasn't planning on meeting Ice-T. He was there with his wife Coco and they had a long line of fans waiting to meet them. I was busy trying to meet all of the other sports stars that were there.
Later in the day, I walked by Ice-T's table and saw a very short line. I couldn't pass up the chance to meet him. I am glad I took the opportunity.
Ice-T was very low key and quiet, yet he made sure to really talk with everyone individually. I heard so many people walking away commenting on how nice he was. He was nice, but he was more. He seemed to really be thankful for the fans and to really try to make it a memorable time for all of them.

Ice T and me in Oaks, PA-October 2009.

Mike Squires 1978 Topps

Last week I put out a challenge for some creative bloggers to produce any of the 'missing' baseball cards of Mike Squires. A few days ago, I featured a 1986 Topps as created by Jason of The Writer's Journey and Jim of Garvey Cey Russell Lopes.
In the comments section of that post, Steve at White Sox Cards wrote that he put together a 1978 card of Squires and had it posted on his site. That card is pictured below.
Actually, it was Squires who lead me to White Sox Cards the first time. Steve wrote a series of posts discussing his choices for best players to wear each number for the White Sox. His choice for #25 was Tommy John, with a mention of Jim Thome. I politely objected and made my case for Squires. I've been following his site ever since.
Steve's site has everything including several sets of specially created cards, card spotlights, White Sox thoughts and much more. He's also been known to veer slightly off-topic with random and interesting things (such as his recent Paul McCartney and Wings clip).
This is another great creation by Steve. The picture seems a perfect fit for the 1978 Topps set. I also love how young Squires looks in the photo.
I really appreciate Steve's efforts. This was his 4th creation for me and I love them all. A new bunch of White Sox goodness will be Steve's upon my next trip to his area.
To recap, I now have a 1977, 1978 and 1986 Topps card creation of Mike Squires. Still outstanding are the elusive 1976 (with red and blue uni) and 1979 (non shared rookie) Topps cards.
Thanks to everyone for their comments, assistance, creations and patience while I prattle on with my Squires mancrush.

Mike Squires 1978 Topps card as created by Steve at White Sox Cards.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

When you have gold presented to you, the best thing to do is to sit back and let it shine. With that being written, I will sit back and re-introduce you to the Evil Zebra, who will tell the tale of his 'Friendly Encounter' with Mike Douglas.

It all started back in Philly in the 70's...
Mike used to film his show out of KYW TV-3 Studios on Independence Square in Philly.
Mike cousin Richie Rome (a musician best known for his disco group back then, the Ritchie Family) was one of Mike's Musical Directors on the show. I got to attend numerous tapings over the years (and that's in fact where I FIRST met Paul Lynde).
In the late 70's he moved his show out to Hollywood. I thought his last taping in Philly, which was awesome (I still have the tshirt he gave to everyone that day), might be the last time I ever saw Mike...BUT I WAS WRONG.
In 1980 our Phillies were in the World Series and a good friend and I were always looking for a fast way to make "EZ" bucks back then. We decided to take a shot that they would win, so we invested in a boatload of tshirts.
The rest is history. We were at the game when they won and SOLD out of our shirts.
We decided to use the money to take a trip out west and surprise Dana Plato for her birthday (Nov. 1980).
We packed some tshirts for Dana, Gary Coleman and Todd Bridges and took a few extras with us. I was sitting in Dana's dressing room and flipping through the closed circuit tv that showed all of the shows being filmed that day at KTTV in Hollywood...and what do I see...The MIKE DOUGLAS SHOW!!! I'm like OMG it's MIKE!
Dana's mom said to me, "You know Mike?" I said that I sure do and she said he is filming right next door.
So, I grabbed a tshirt (Mike was a big Phillies fan) and headed to his studio, went into the control room and saw his producer, who I knew from Philly, Woody Frazier...He said this was too good, that the Phillies had just won the World Series and there was already a tshirt for Mike. What he had me do next was historical.
As Mike was interviewing Susan Anton live (on tape), they had me go down in the back of the audience and yell "Hey MIKE, your PHILLIES are WORLD CHAMPS!"
He stopped and looked into the crowd as I was walking down the aisle to hand him the tshirt. His face was priceless. He stopped taping for a few minutes and explained to his audience who I was and where I was from. He took the shirt back to his chair and went on with the show.
Got to meet him for a little bit after his taping and that's about it for my Mike Douglas Friendly Encounter...LOL!

Bear Down Sunday #6

The Chicago Bears are 3-2 after a Sunday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Today, the Bears face the Cincinnati Bengals, who stand at 4-2. Last I heard, my old friends Tom Skalski and Ed Mann would be attending this game (although not together).
Speaking of Tom, back in the old days, one of our mutual favorites was linebacker Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles. Bergey spent the first 5 years (out of 12) of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tom probably blocks out the Bengals years, much like he would block out Franco Harris's time with the Seahawks.
Anyway, when I met Bergey at the Ultimate Collectors Show, I mentioned how Tom would have loved to meet him. Bergey laughed and thanked me (us) for remembering him, despite him not being a flashy star. I told him that we always loved the true tough guys like him and he laughed some more.
It was cool meeting Bergey and I am sure Tom would have loved to talk a bit of football with him as well.

Bill Bergey and me in Oaks, PA-October 2009.

Mike Squires 1986 Topps

Last week, I made my first voyage into the world of self-created baseball cards. I produced a 1977 Topps card of Mike Squires (admittedly the easiest card I could have attempted). I ended the piece by putting out an offer to anyone who would make any of the missing cards of Squires (1975, 1978, 1979 or 1986). Two fellow bloggers quickly sent me their versions of a 1986 Topps card of Squires.
Jim is the man behind Garvey Cey Russell Lopes. This is a virtual romp through tons of Los Angeles Dodgers greatness. Jim does venture out of the blue heaven, too. Jim's special creations are Final Tribute cards, which give final cards to former Dodgers who never had an appropriate final card. Jim contributed the Squires card on the right.
Jason produces The Writer's Journey. Jason is a Cincinnati-based aspiring novelist. His site is dedicated to "whatever is on his mind at the moment". True to his word, this site has a little of everything, with a little emphasis on Cincinnati Reds. Jason sent me the card on the left.
I really appreciate both cards. They are excellent creations and I am happily adding them to my online Squires collection.

Happy Birthday Evil Zebra

After the Evil Zebra emailed me for the first time, I checked out his site and I was blown away by the people he has met. The list goes from Hollywood Hall of Famers like Bob Hope to entertainers like Paul Lynde to wrestling legends past and present like Killer Kowalski and King Kong Bundy. I could only imagine the stories EZ could tell. However, why should I just imagine? I have the opportunity to actually hear them and put them here for all of you to read, as well.
I quickly asked EZ if he would be willing to share some of his stories on a regular basis. A little while back, I featured his meeting with the late-great comedian Paul Lynde. Monday, I will be featuring his encounter with the former talk show host icon Mike Douglas.
Okay, that is past and future, so why am I writing this today. Oh today is a special day. Today is the birthday of the Evil Zebra.
I am not sure about what makes him evil (or if he really is evil). I hate to ruin a reputation and potentially incur his wrath, but he seems downright nice to me. Well, maybe you can be evil and nice?!
Whichever the case, I want to send out a birthday greeting to my newest bud, Evil Zebra. It has been a real pleasure getting to know more about you and I look forward to more stories and sometime even meeting you!

Cards That Never Were:Johngy Style

Lately, it seems I have been seeing more of specially created cards by my fellow bloggers. Steve at White Sox Cards produces 'Cards That Never Were' (among other creations). At Baseball Card Recollections, 'Topps Cards That Never Were' usually features greats of the game who never had a final card. Over at Garvey Cey Russell Lopes, 'Final Tribute' cards are mostly produced for standout Dodgers.
I love, love, love these cards. I have even put some of Steve's creations on this site (a Ricky Seilheimer 1981 Topps, a Mick Kelleher 1973 Topps and a Rick Stelmaszek 1974 Topps Traded).
I am not very talented with PhotoShop or other such programs. My cut-and-paste skills were fantastic in the pre-pc days, but have since been totally put to shame. With that being written, I have ventured into the 'Cards That Never Were' action.
Of course, my first attempt had to be a card of Mike Squires. I am still hoping for a 1976 card of Squires in the old red and blue uniform, but I decided to make a 1977 card of him.
I know, Squires didn't even play in 1976 and barely played in 1977. I also know Squires had a Topps rookie card in 1979 (which was shared with Mike Colbern and Ross Baumgarten). Still, I chose 1977, because it was the easiest card for a novice like me to create.
I will put out this offer, however. If any of my fellow bloggers creates a Squires card from 1976, 1978, 1979 (non-rookie) or 1986 (Final Tribute), I will devote a blog to you, the card and your blog and I promise to send over a small stack of cards from your 'Want List' as thanks.
Now, without further adieu, I present how a Mike Squires 1977 Topps card might have looked.

1977 Topps Mike Squires by Johngy.

Chachi Takes on Jerry Manuel

Jerry Manuel played 96 games and hit .150 as a backup middle infielder mostly in the 70's. He also managed the Chicago White Sox for 6 years, guiding them to one divisional title, four 2nd places and one 3rd place.
Manuel was quiet and often incurred the wrath of fans and critics because of his calm demeanor. He seems to be a bit more fiery during his current stint with the New York Mets. While in New York earlier this year, my good friend Chuck Gekas played the role of Johngy. As a correspondent for Global Traveler, Chachi got into some hard-hitting journalism, giving his take on Manuel. Fortunately, our video camera was there to capture it.

Jerry Manuel at Citi Field in New York, NY-summer 2009.

Chuck Gekas in the press box at Citi Field in New York, NY-summer 2009.

Stoked to Meet Michael Rodrick

Recently at the Ultimate Collectibles Show in Oaks (PA), I finally met Michele Mupo. Michele was there with actor Michael Rodrick.
Rodrick has had a recurring role as Stokes on tv's 24, among other acting credits. Actors on current tv shows are not common at these conventions. It was interesting to see Rodrick. He had a good line of women and men waiting to spend a few minutes with him.
Rodrick was very cool. He seemed happy to be there and comfortable with the fans. Rodrick's appearance was welcomed by the fans and was a great move for his career. I am sure he gained a bunch of new fans at the show.

Michael Rodrick and me in Oaks, PA-October 2009.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

My friend Chuck T. Gekas hired Jim Forsell in 1992 or 1993 when Chachi headed special sections for the Chicago Sun-Times. Jim is a great guy (according to a survey of 2 people carefully selected by Jim himself), who loves the Chicago Cubs. He lives in Rockford (IL) where he attends several ball games a year for the minor league club. Jim has written several short plays and has done some public speaking.
Forsell has written a 10-minute play about a Cubs fan/idea man who after a 100 year shut-out (now 101), stages a Cubs World Series win at Wrigley Field. For more info on this or anything else about Jim, you can email him at Jim4Sell@me.com. Tell him Johngy sent you.
Forsell tied for 8th place in this year's Team Baseball Pool run by Chachi and me. More importantly, his humor earned him the prestigious Johngy Points crown. If you like baseball, pools and good competition, be sure to join us in 2010 (cheap pool plug, but it's my blog!).

It was in this pool, that I did a plug for this site and this feature. Jim answered my plea with his picture with legendary jockey Earlie Fires at Arlington Park.
This is the first appearance by a jockey and by Jim (jim is on the right). Thanks to Jim for sharing this.

Earlie Fires and Jim Forsell at Arlington Park in Arlington Park, IL-August 2009.

Bear Down Sunday #5

The 3-1 Chicago Bears face the Atlanta Falcons today. The Bears are already 2 wins behind the Minnesota Vikings, meaning each game is important. Isn't it great to have 'important' Bears' games again?!
The most important Bears game ever was played on my 21st birthday. The Bears whipped the New England Patriots 46-10 in Super Bowl XX. How appropriate was the 46 in light of their '46' defense (thank you Doug Plank).
Dan Hampton was the heart of the defense. Hamp was a warrior, playing through pain and injuries to forge a 12 year Hall of Fame career.
Danimal was not shy, but he was often overlooked on a team of characters like Jim McMahon, Payton, William Perry and others. Even his defense mate Steve 'Mongo' McMichael got more hype.
I had to go across the country to Oaks (PA) and the Ultimate Collectors Shw to meet Hampton, but it was worth it. I was one of the last to meet him and he took his time. We talked about his career, the Super Bowl, his radio work and more. I thanked him for my best birthday present.
The only problem was the knucklehead photographer who decided to take much more background and much less Hampton. Oh well, at least he got the face.

Dan Hampton and me in Oaks, PA-October 2009.