Monday, March 10, 2008

After an exciting weekend, I am ready to get back to work and tell you all about it. Friday I went to Hawthorne to take in some thoroughbred racing. Hawthorne is fun, because it is so old school. I like Hawthorne because it seems like Al Capone could come walking out of the men’s room at the Turf Club at any moment. Then I went home, took a nap and went to the Hawks game. It was Bobby Hull and Stan Mikita Night, and it was fun all the way up to the point where the tying goal by the Blackhawks with less than 40 seconds to go was disallowed. I like Stan and Bobby, and it felt really good to see them embraced by the city that represented so well for so many years.

Saturday I got a massage and fell asleep twice, and Sunday I watched the Hawks lose again (this time in overtime). It was Spike O’Dell Radio Icon Day. I have attended all of the Radio Icon games (including my own) and I am proud to say that I am the only icon to not get booed. Mike North, Eric and Kathy, Eddie and Jobo all got booed. Spike O’Dell got nothing. I’m not kidding. There was nothing. He wasn’t booed, but he wasn’t cheered either. It was like he didn’t even exist. It was quite existential. I found some shots of me on the Blackhawks Web site. Go here, and then click on Chicago Radio Icons At Home Games. You can check out all of the icons for yourself.

I got a kick out of reading that the Cubs might have to use U.S. Cellular Field while Wrigley Field is being renovated. It will be quite an adjustment for most Cubs fans. It doesn’t smell like urine, there is plenty of parking, and they even have the ability to show replays of the most exciting moments during the game using something other than wooden blocks. I’m not so sure I want to share, but I have a feeling it’s not really up to me. I’m sure there will be lots of complaining about the neighborhood, and its lack of bars and eateries. Sadly, Jimbo’s will probably be out of business by then. That is our showplace bar on the South Side. No women under 300 lbs, or with all of their teeth..