Saturday, September 17, 2022

Remembering Stuff

The Schloss-Blog sometimes knows what it's going to write about well in advance, and sometimes not until just moments before posting.

This is one of those weeks, when a few things I've tripped over have supplanted my opinions on violations of the Espionage Act or underwriters of the Insurrection or even how stupid Lindsey Graham is for bringing forth a bill to ban abortions nationwide.

For instance, my friend, John Wasik, is running for re-election to the Lake County (Illinois) Board.

I don't live in Lake County. I have no family residing there. Me and John were both contracted at the same time by Blackwell Publishing to write books in a series that included my "Sports Marketing" tome (Blackwell, Malden, MA, 1996), one of the first in the genre.

We became kindred spirits, keeping each other abreast of our progress on our respective books. It was an honor to be included in the same author group with John, a true warrior for fiscal and resource management in the county, all the while the heartfelt father and husband that's he been.

If I lived in Lake County, I know I'd vote for him. If you live in Lake County, you should too.

***

Been reading where Premier League soccer games have been postponed in England because of the Queen Elizabeth II's funeral, which so far has last about a month. Don't worry - her son has had 73 years of training and is more than ready to be king.

But the soccer matches have been postponed because there apparently is not enough "security" to post at the games, due to so much of it being detailed to security assignment for the funeral that never ends.

The miles-long lines to pay final respects to the queen are testimony to her beloved status by the British people. But the postponement of the games, is that testimony to the British soccer crowds being the overtly rowdy crowds that would be out of control if not for an overt police presence?

Queen 1, hooligans 0.

***

Had the unique privilege on Thursday of this past week to spend an hour with Sharon Bouchard, a standout athlete whose exploits I got to cover when she was at Buffalo Grove High School and I was a rookie reporter. I should say @Sharon A Bouchard, or what she goes by on social media.

She was kind enough to think to contact me when her cross-country bike ride brought her through Phoenix. We spent an hour reminiscing and catching up. Could have turned into all day if we'd let it.

God bless you, Sharon, and the charitable ride on which you've embarked. All the sports reporting I've done doesn't measure up to the heart you're displaying now. Thanks for thinking of me.

*** 

I post a lot on Facebook, trying to keep it funny and lighthearted, except for this blog every Sunday, which is sometimes funny, but never lighthearted. Most political stuff goes on my Twitter account. Having once taught a course on how to use social media to cover sports, and still using it to cover sports, I have subsequently maintained my social-media profiles.

Every once in a while, I post something that gets a lot of looks, a lot of likes. And I'm appreciative. I usually look to see who put a thumbs-up or a heart or something on one of my posts, even some of the most-lighthearted ones,

I like to check the list, so to speak, of people who put a stamp of approval on my work product, and one name coming up recently that I had not seen nor heard about in many years is Chris Molenaur, a modest, mild-mannered, 6-9 basketball star who hit some big shots, made some big plays and played some great games for Buffalo Grove High School, but always shied away from the spotlight, letting his teammates take the bows.

I reached out and sent him a DM, letting him know that after all these years, it was nice to see his name pop up on my social-media feed. He responded right away, his usual reserved, appreciative self, addressing me as "Mr. Schlossberg."

I think I got a chuckle out of him reminding him that now, some 40 years later, he can call me "Howard."

Sportswriters don't do it for the money - they do it for the gratification. Chris and so many of his Buffalo Grove classmates and teammates are among those high on my gratification list.

It makes me appreciative of guys like Bill Filetti, Bentley Patterson and Scotty Bastable of Buffalo Grove, plus former Wheeling track stars Michele Weisensee Jarchow and Dana Lee Miroballi. And so many more.

One of these weeks I'll get around to my former students, so many of whom are still in touch.

***

A quick greeting to Andy Olson, who is celebrating a milestone birthday this weekend. Andy runs Radio Free Phoenix, where you can hear my show every Sunday from 9 p.m. to midnight, Arizona time.

Four years ago, I submitted a list of songs on RFP's "Radio Freedom" tab, songs I would play if I was in charge of the station for an hour. To my surprise, Andy had me into the studio and made me an instant DJ.

What fun! I did it again a few months later and after encouragement from long-time DJ's Liz Boyle and Sharon Kelley, I asked Andy if I could fill an open slot he had.

Four years later, like I said, here I am, every Sunday night. Andy, Liz and Sharon have held my hand through "training" me on how to do this.

Forever appreciative, forever thankful for their friendships, confidence and camaraderie.

Thanks, Andy. Happy birthday.

***

Good night, Mrs. Calabash. Here's to you Sharon A, Dana and Michele.

More Sunday night on my Radio Free Phoenix rock 'n' roll show.






Wednesday, September 14, 2022

Of Kyrgios, Cereal Killers, Gas at $4 and Being Upside Down on Gym Equipment

The Schloss-Blog is back in The Valley, battling himself, his computer, his software, his bookshelves (that he walks into and cuts his head open on) and reloading software on his laptop without the help of his trusty sidekick, Jocelyn.

OK, I'm really her trusty sidekick.

But really, as you read through this, remember it's actually a cry out to her, on the road, for H-E-L-P!

***

Hey, did you hear the one about the U.S. Open Tennis championships, where Australian Nick Kyrgios is doing his best John McEnroe?

Except without the major championships that Mac compiled. That would be 17. Nick has zero. Nada, Nil. None.

But spends his time on court, approaching major titles while talking to himself, the coaches and his lady friend in his box and anyone who will listen to him curse, chatter, stall, shrug and be every bit the iconoclastic idiot McEnroe could be.

Without the championship. Nick, shut up until you win one, OK?

***

Inflation is still a problem, and the Fed is raising interest rates to combat it while a favorable labor market and declining gas prices keep us from slipping into an outright recession.

Republicans are running on inflation, which is skidding, and abortion, which is going kill (pun attended) a lot of their unworthy candidates, especially for the Senate.

Let's hope Democratic initiatives to control inflation and raise the American anger level about Roe being overturned becomes votes at the ballot box in November.

Let's hope.

***

Did you hear the one about the woman who got stuck upside down in an exercise machine and had to call 911 to get freed?

Really 

https://nypost.com/2022/09/01/woman-stuck-upside-down-in-exercise-machine-calls-911-for-help-so-embarrassing/

***

Looks like the Cereal Killers have been caught, just couldn't stay out of their own way. No, literally.

Their UK string of cafes by that name have supposedly closed, although their Dubai location reportedly remains open (you can't kill over-the-top ideas in Dubai).

Brothers Dean and Gary Keery opened the chain and remain the operators, blaming the aftermath of COVID for their UK closings.

Maybe it was the menu.

***

People are talking about civil war, people like Republican senators and congressmen, if Donald Trump gets indicted, current DOJ appeals of the judge's "special master" order notwithstanding.

History tells us that after Ruby Ridge in 1992 and the Waco standoff with David Koresh in 1993, what happened next was Timothy McVeigh's conviction as a domestic terrorist for the Oklahoma City bombing that killed 168 people in 1995. Domestic terrorist attack followed supposed government harassment of citizens.

So don't say there might not be a civil war or elements thereof coming when we've already had them (see 6th, January, 2021) in the wake of domestic standoffs with alleged dangerous elements.

***

Good night, Mrs. Calabash. Here's to you, Queen Elizabeth.

More Sunday night on my Radio Free Phoenix rock 'n' roll show, which is always followed by the Bohemian NightCat, @JohnKirkDeritis.



Friday, September 9, 2022

Of Lake, Laredo and Links

The Schloss-Blog today is looking at Kari Lake (sorry), baby wipes in Laredo and what's going on on the links.

Kari Lake, the former Fox Arizona newscaster running for governor as a conspiracy-theory Republican, goes on and on that she has proof of fraud in the 2020 election.

This despite none being found in any - repeat, any - 2020 election recount or audit. But she says she's got it although she refused to share it in an exchange with an NBC reporter this summer, calling him a representative of MSDNC. He had asked her why she didn't turn over her proof of these crimes to the appropriate authorities. No, she never did that. Because she has none.

Now though, she and conspiracy-theorist Mark Finchem, the Republican Secretary of State candidate, had a lawsuit tossed in which they sued Democratic Secretary of State and gubernatorial nominee Katie Hobbs and the Maricopa County Republican election judges over having manual voting only this November, no machines, calling them unreliable based on 2020.

No doubt, she was counting on this as her proof. The judge said she had none though.

This is what Republicans are running on, conspiracy theories, while Democrats are protecting education, the border, voting rights and hedges against inflation.

To put it bluntly, Kari Lake is a liar who said she can prove election fraud. 

She can't. And she can't govern either. To think, she therefore just might have been lying to us all those years from behind an anchor desk.

***

In Laredo, Texas, at the official border crossing, inspectors found - are you ready? - $11.8 billion worth of cocaine stuffed into containers of baby wipes.

Baby wipes.

Meanwhile, Texas Governor Greg Abbott is sending busload after busload of illegal immigrants to New York, Washington, D.C., and Chicago, respectively, because he doesn't want them clogging up his state, his resources.

Maybe if he managed the baby-wipe shipments at his legitimate border-crossing sites a little better, they wouldn't.

Sounds like he needs the baby wipes anyway - he's got a lot of shit stuffed up his ass.

***

Breakdancing - yes, breakdancing - will be an Olympic sport in 2024. 

What was once a street-corner performance art will now be a gold-medal event, along with skateboarding, surfing and sport climbing.

The IOC is getting smart in its old age, legitimizing the sports of the streets that young people have popularized to get them as an audience for its advertisers and sponsors.

Hey, if we've come this far though, how about tightrope-walking without a net, skyscraper to skyscraper?  Maybe lip-synching? And in different categories (rap, rock, opera, country)?

And of course, slapping Academy Award-show hosts and presenters.

***

Georgia Congresswoman Marjorie Taylor-Greene is opposed to President Biden's recently announced college-tuition debt relief plan.

Hypocritical scam-artist Greene recently had $183,000 in PPP loans forgiven

But they love her in Georgia, right?

***

This, meanwhile, will not become an Olympic sport. Put this in your browser and check it out. From Spain: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xdMzMdfDJ1A

***

Finally, LIV Golf continues to throw around "blood money" and several pros like it, despite the fact it comes from the people who bring you grotesque murders and underwrite terrorism.

World No. 2 Cam Smith has joined, as has rising American Harold Varner III.

Varner made $2.3 million in the 2021-22 PGA season, but at the press conference announcing his switch to LIV, he said he wants to make sure he took care of his kids.

Hey, Harold, take care of my daughter too and please pay my greens fees going forward, OK? Not like you can't afford it now.

Smith said he's excited to be playing for his teammates in the 54-hole, shotgun-start, no-cut competition. 

Enjoy your blood money, boys. Hey Harold, now your kids can go to a private school. Woo hoo!

***

Good night, Mrs. Calabash. Here's to you, Serena Williams.

More Sunday night on my Radio Free Phoenix rock 'n' roll show.




Thursday, September 1, 2022

Randonly Random

The Schloss-Blog is all over the place today. Don't believe me? Just watch.

But first, we have exclusive insight into the affidavit, albeit redacted, that was released by the FBI regarding the probable cause for the search at Mar-a-Lago:

Trump's gonna' be indicted.

***

The Old Spice antiperspirant commercial with the Dolph Lundgren-like character dripping sweat from his armpits, causing the guy he's trying to save to lose his grip and plummet to his supposed death, is simply gross.

***

The Pittsburgh Steelers, with Mitchell Trubisky at quarterback, will bench him for rookie No. 1 pick Kenny Pickett mostly because their offensive line sucks and their weapons are banged-up wash-ups.

It's Trubisky's job to lose, and he will, but not necessarily of his own doing.

When Pickett gets hurt - and he will - Trubisky will re-enter, play the hero, and keep the job, possibly take them to the playoffs, especially with that defense.

***

My grandson thinks Trubisky sucks.

***

The 2nd Swing ad, where the gal pulls out and hits what the one of the guys in her foursome exclaims as, "New Sticks!," is the singularly most-phallic symbol ad I've ever seen, as water spouts go off up and down the fairway with her every stroke, and the stick on the green stands up straight as her ball rolls in the cup. 

They might as well have had Bar Paly swinging clubs.

No, wait...

***

Brian Kelly at Notre Dame had at least one player commit a rape he got away with and had a student assistant die filming from a tower that never should've been up in high winds.

He was rewarded with a $100 million contract at LSU.

***

Democrats have proposed and finally enacted inflation reduction measure, healthcare protections, infrastructure improvements, desperately needed chip-manufacturing incentives and protections for health risk-exposed military veterans.

Republicans have tried to block each and every one of those.

***

My friend Reji Laberje, under the pseudonym Jeri Shepherd, is writing a new science-fiction series, premiering with At Fault, her daring look at Earth's future after devastating climate change destruction has realigned all things politics, military, economic and otherwise.

It was a fascinating read. By a fascinating woman. Can't wait to get my hands on book two.

***

The Supreme Court observing what its ruling overturning Roe has done?

Women who have miscarried in some cases can't get medical treatment and new trigger laws are going into effect that will totally ban abortion in 16 states.

But America is pushing back. In Kansas, where abortion protection remains codified and in New York, where a bell weather seat in Congress when a Democrat who campaigned on "Choice."

Stay tuned. More to come. Republicans want total bans on abortion. They be careful what they ask for, come November.

***

Democratic campaign ads: Choice. Jobs. Clean Energy. Infrastructure.

Republican campaign ads: Make 10-year olds have babies.

***

The Twix ad, with the twins not deciding which side tastes better while two bears can't decide which twin tastes better, is gross.

***

Had a crudite lately?

Dr. Oz should be careful about asking for the ingredients for one.

He might get them.

Up his ass.

***

Herschel Walker thinks we have too many trees.

Have to wonder, did Atlanta-based Georgia Pacific, a pulp and paper manufacturer, contribute to his senatorial campaign?

Who voted for this schmuck to become a senatorial candidate? The same people with voted for Marjorie Taylor Greene.

***

Donald Trump is saying that those classified documents he took to Mar-a-Lago where "his." 

Now he could indicted for having them.

Looks like he'll get just what he asked for.

***

Finally, spotted this headline:

"Bugs flying around with wings are flying bugs"

Really. Can't make this up.

If you see one equally as auspicious, let me know.

***

Good night Mrs. Calabash. Here's to you, Mrs. Robinson.

More Sunday night on my Radio Free Phoenix rock 'n' roll show.