The shoes in my golf bag were so old that they had deteriorated. The plastic around the cleats had crumbled into pieces and the leather tops were rotten. I’ll have to rely on tennis shoes when I play this weekend. A few aging balls found in the bottom of the bag will certainly be lost on the course, and I’ll be forced to buy more. I still have plenty of wooden tees thanks to the Beat The Pro promotion. The clubs are at least 30-years old, bought new back in Indianapolis at Dick’s Sporting Goods. They honestly haven’t got that much use through the years, but the head of the driver is miniscule compared to the oversized modern choices.
At one of the LIN-TV golf outings, I was given a travel bag for my clubs, after my boss won it for the longest drive. He apparently did not need another accessory that would do nothing but sit in the garage. Now, it sits in my garage, unzipped like an ancient mummy just a few days ago in anticipation of weekend. I found two crumpled up golf towels, one with the I.U. logo and the other Purdue. They will be appropriate for Saturday’s rivalry game that we will watch in a bar. I have ties to both schools, but the Hoosiers are my Alma-mater and have the stronger championship history. The Boilermakers have been dominant in recent years, but I stubbornly remain loyal. Chances are good that #1 Purdue will prevail at what my Boiler buddies call “Ass Hall,” where I.U. typically holds court. I’m prepared for the worst.
At least I won’t have to get up early to play either day. Our tee times are around noon, so any hangover symptoms will have somewhat subsided by then. There will be a lot of reminiscing about our LIN Television days and its illustrious leader Gary Chapman. He wasn’t really much of a cheerleader, but liked to use the words, “Go Get ‘Em.” In fact, that’s the extent of the conversation exchange that most of us ever had with him.
Over beers and golf, we’ll talk about our annual gatherings at Cape Cod and late-night excursions into P-Town for karaoke at Colonel Bradford’s. I’ll certainly share some of these stories when I do my recap of our gathering. Other meetings, as I recall, were held at TV station sites like Dayton, Providence, and Indianapolis where we also typically did a community service project. The guys I’m with this weekend ran the LIN properties in Fort Wayne and Terre Haute. We then met twice a year with our rep firm in New York City for “Entitlement,” that was often an ugly session evaluating performance. It took all the fun out visits to Yankee Stadium for UTZ Potato Chips, the New York Athletic Club, and the lighting of Rockefeller Center’s Christmas Tree. UTZ will undoubtedly make an appearance on the golf course.
February is always filled with emotion, as both of my deceased parent’s birthdays kick off the month. My wife was watching the movie Groundhog Day this afternoon, as Punxsutawney Phil called for 6 more weeks of winter. Sadly, our Austin friends are already trying to thaw themselves out of a recent ice storm, something we don’t worry much about down here in Florida. However, we too have had our share of weather-related emergencies.
My mom and dad would have both been celebrating 102 years this week, born just hours apart in 1921. They’ve been gone for nine years now, passing within weeks of each other in 2014. Dad had Alzheimer’s and mom tired from trying to care for him. I’ve been busy of late updating blog stories I’ve written about this amazing couple for my autobiography in Storyworth, at the expense of preparing new material for this site.
My wife and I have lots of local travel planned over these next few weeks, but also some rare time apart. First, I’m playing golf with three former LIN TV executives near Anna Marie Island. I’ll spend two nights there and two afternoons on the Waterlefe and Lakewood Ranch Legacy courses. Before I take the car and leave her with only a golf cart, she’s in charge of a “Hello February” neighborhood bash tomorrow night. I’m still getting over a hangover from last night’s martini social with neighborhood friends. I’m sure the drinks will also be flowing during the upcoming golf battles and the televised I.U. vs. Purdue basketball rivalry that we will probably watch in a bar.
Next week, we’ll accept delivery of a new living room chair, drive to Leesburg with Tally in tow to see my sister, take another auto excursion to Bradenton for lunch with more former LIN co-workers, and return to enjoy the Alter Eagles concert at our Islandwalk community center. Next, comes the Superbowl, more I.U. games, and the monthly Borrego Boys luncheon, followed by a three-day visit from my sister/brother-in-laws, then friends from Ft. Wayne for at least one night. My son’s new job at Chili’s will certainly add more babysitting duties to our already busy social calendar.
At the start of this week, I was looking forward to some good basketball, with BIG games on the horizon. The Golden Gophers were without leading scorer Dawson Garcia and backup forward Pharrel Payne when the Hoosiers came calling at “The Barn.” Regardless, the Hoosiers still couldn’t “hit the proverbial side,” shooting 41.1% from the field 4-14 from behind the arc, and 11-18 from the line. The home team was even worse at 34.4%, 5-25, and 8-14, but I.U. had twice as many turnovers, half of those in the first eight minutes of the game. It may have been one of the ugliest games I’ve ever witnessed.
The ”Rule of 60” was working against us at traditionally unfriendly Williams Arena as Minnesota took a 57-54 lead with 3:20 go in the game after Jamison Battle hit a contested 3-pointer and Taurus Samuels sank two free throws. The savior was once again Trayce Jackson-Davis with 25 points, and 21 rebounds, including a game winning tip-in off a free-throw miss my Race Thompson with 43-seconds remaining. It prevented Minnesota from reaching 60 first with the score tied at 57-57. You also have to credit the IU defense as Indiana would dominate the final 3:20 of the game, allowing no points while scoring seven of their own. The final score was 61-57 after a pair of Trey Galloway free throws with 8-seconds to go, getting the Hoosiers over that magical hump. Ta’Lon Cooper missed a 3-pointer on the next Minnesota possession and Miller Kopp grabbed a loose ball and called timeout with just over 20 seconds to go.
Regardless of the circumstances, a big, BIG road win was the result, in a setting that has never been kind to the Hoosiers. It was their fourth straight conference win, tying them with Illinois and Michigan State at 5-4. They are a half-game behind Michigan and Northwestern, one game behind Rutgers, and three behind Purdue. Mike Woodson did not travel with the team since he was recovering from Covid, so Associate head coach, Yasir Rosemond took the reins. Next up, Ohio State at Simon Skjodt Assembly Hall.
With an 86-70 win over the Buckeyes, it meant five straight conference wins for the HOT Hoosiers for the first time since the 2015-2016 season. Two nights earlier, the IU Women’s team conquered the #2 ranked Ohio State ladies on the same floor. Both Hoosier teams used huge runs to breakaway to comfortable victories.
Freshman sensation Jalen Hood-Schifino had 17 of Indiana’s first 21 points, and finished the first half with 20, including 6- treys for a 46-30 Hoosier edge. In the end, JHS scored a game-high 24 points. Trayce Jackson-Davis continued his recent dominance with another double-double. He had 18 points and 10 rebounds in the victory while Malik Reneau, showing signs of shedding his freshman slump, added 15-points and 8 boards. Turnovers still seem to plague this team with nine compared to 8 for the visitors, but the Hoosiers shot 50% from field and 50% from three.
I.U. now sits at 15-6 and 6-4 in conference play, after a 1-4 start. The “magical moment” was a TJD dunk at 13:30, making it 60-43. Hopefully, this momentum will continue when they play at Maryland on Tuesday night, before hosting Purdue on Saturday. The Boilers have already won 21-games after revenging their only loss to Michigan State and claiming 4-straight since. The BIG Showdown is coming next weekend.
Maybe the Lunar New Year party we threw is beginning to bring us good fortune? Up until this morning I was bemoaning a pretty sizable income tax payment in April. I found it hard to believe that we had not better managed our IRA withdrawals, especially after last year’s massive payout to the IRS. Granted, we needed considerable funds in 2021 to complete our home sale transaction and make the necessary upgrades. However, 2022 was simply home improvements like an outdoor kitchen, storage shelves, landscaping, lighting fixtures, and driveway expansion. When I loaded everything into Turbotax at the end of the year, we were still looking at writing a hefty check to the government.
We have lots of travel plans for 2023 and 2024, some of which we’ve already paid for in advance. We’re going to Vegas in March and recklessly added a couple of days with the grandkids at pricey Disney World, since we were already flying out of Orlando. There are two weddings to attend in both Indianapolis and Oceanside, Oregon, plus a bridal shower for her niece that my wife is attending. In addition, we’re also doing a Nile River Viking cruise in May to see the Egyptian pyramids, an extension in Petra, and a 5-day layover in London on the flight back. We’ve been spending a lot more than we’re taking in and the pending tax burden seemed to be the straw that broke the camel’s back.
As a result, we put off some projects at home, delayed making our flight plans into Portland & Indy, scrimped on the upcoming Vegas arrangements, stopped using our charge cards, and seriously considered some part-time work. It’s hardly worth looking for sympathy since most of these expenses are frivolous in nature and most of us are just trying to keep up with inflation. It’s been difficult for us to curb spending after all those years of having two large paychecks every two weeks. We saved our money to travel in retirement and although Covid certainly curbed some spending, it also brought on an urgency to see the world while we still can and build the home of our dreams in the process.
I admit to getting a bit carried away. With a pension and two Social Security checks, things are getting tight. Warranties seem to be a budgeting factor that i didn’t properly estimate. Appliance contracts, termite concerns, heating & air conditioning service agreements, all coupled with storm damage assessments, paver sealing, repairs, and higher than expected healthcare insurance have taken a chunk out of our travel budget. We needed some unexpected good fortune and perhaps I found it this morning. We got a 1099 in the mail that I had estimated incorrectly in projecting our taxes. Fortunately, we’re now getting a good refund, that naturally I want to spend frivolously, especially after a few sleepless nights of trying to figure out how to stop the financial bleeding. I see this as a turn for the better, hope it continues, and sincerely wish that this good fortune spreads to others.
I was really confused on what day of the week it was today after a busy week. Our Sunday night Lunar New Year Party went well with 34 guests, but it seemed like more of a Friday or Saturday night affair. Confucious or Confusion? Monday was a traditional “Matinee” day, but we went to the movie “Plane” a bit earlier to get home for another party of neighbors planning a cruise, so dinner wasn’t even “Meatless.” Tuesday, I went to my first chair yoga class and stretched a few rarely used muscles. Temperatures have been cold, and therefore swimming has been more sporadic than normal, disrupting that routine. We had also strayed from the habit of having the kids over for Tuesday Eve dinner, getting that family tradition back on track.
Wednesday night, I watched I.U. men’s basketball barely edge Minnesota, but usually they play mid-week Thursdays, so that threw me off a bit. I was also up late for the game, fueled by adrenaline after a late tip-off. My wife and I ended up going chair shopping in Sarasota yesterday, our second visit there in the past week. We also gorged ourselves on Amish cooking at Der Dutchman and had no need for dinner, another unusual twist to the week. The night ended with an I.U. women’s basketball victory over #2 Ohio State.
In the middle of my run today, I suddenly realized it was Friday already. Jogging has at least been a consistent habit for me. That hasn’t changed in the last fourteen years, as “The Streak” now stands at 5,143 consecutive days. I also did not vary from my 3.1-mile course and was not rushed into a shorter distance. In addition, I’ve done a lot of writing this week, adding to the chapters in my Storyworth ramblings. Nothing much is planned for the weekend when traditional partying is done. We got it out of the way early this week, and that was the beginning of my retirement confusion.
This is a continuation of my last post where I listed my Top 10 Sports Moments (See Post #2257). However, there were just too many others that need to be mentioned. Because of my media connections and extensive travel opportunities, I’ve had the good fortune to attend 9 Final Fours (New Orleans 1982, Minneapolis 1992, Indianapolis 1991, 2000,2006, 2010, and Houston 2011) and 4 World Series, plus numerous auto races, games, championships, playoffs, tournaments, inaugural events, matches, stadiums and venues. To recall all of this was all a real test for my memory banks, aided greatly by diary mentions.
I grew up in Elkhart, Indiana, about 100 miles east of Chicago. There was little in the way of sports on TV when I was a kid, but on occasion my dad would take me to games in The Windy City. I wanted to see Mickey Mantle play, so we went to Comiskey Park, home of the White Sox. We also went to Wrigley Field and on one trip, he took me to lunch in the Prudential Building with Jim Coker, a catcher for the Philadelphia Phillies. I also had an uncle who coached football at the University of Notre Dame and a cousin, Denny Murphy, that was an Irish tight end. I remember meeting him at a game against Cal. In addition, he took me to a N.D. basketball game at the Athletic and Convocation Center (ACC) that looked like a giant bra. These were my first personal connections with top athletes. I went back to Notre Dame in 2017 for the stadium remodel, my boss, a N.D. grad, gave me front-row seats for the unveiling.
My dad would often take me to high school basketball games at nearby North Side Gym, one of the largest in Indiana. He knew John Longfellow, the coach for the Muncie Central Bearcats, one of the best teams in the state. I got to go into the locker room after the game, another brush with greatness. Other than the annual high school basketball tournament, this venue mainly hosted some concerts, professional wrestling with Dick the Bruiser, and Roller Derby matches when the Bay City Bombers would come to town. Before single-class basketball was eliminated, I watched a classic battle for high school supremacy from our Hoosier Dome suite that I could never had imagined when I first went to Hoosier Hysteria games with my dad. A national record 41,046 were in attendance in 1990 when future I.U. star Damon Bailey led Bedford North Lawrence to the title, upsetting top rated and undefeated Concord High School and future NBA star Shawn Kemp 63-60. Concord was only about 15 minutes south of my hometown. It would be the last of 61 consecutive IHSAA finals sell-outs.
By my 10th birthday, I had lost interest in the Yankees and took my dad’s suggestion of picking a team closer to home. As the White Sox played in the 1959 World Series, I was able to watch on black & white TV my catching idol, Sherm Lollar of the Sox play for the first time. We did go to a few games to see him in person, but I never got to meet the man. He and his teammates have become the main focus of my baseball card collection and lifelong allegiance to the Sox.
I wrestled in high school and ran some track, but sports surprisingly were not a priority. Elkhart High was a big school with over 1000 students in my graduating class. We were state champions in football, wrestling, cross-county, and track, but I remember only occasionally going to Blue Blazer games or meets. I chose Albion College in Michigan after actually considering Purdue and played some intramural flag football for East Hall and eventually my fraternity Sigma Chi. I probably also attended a homecoming football game to watch the Britons. My frat brothers were hot on hockey and talked me into a Red Wings game. I also went to Milwaukee in 1971 as a weekend getaway and ended up at my first NBA game to watch Lew Alcinder and the eventual champion Bucks’. Outside of Chicago baseball, these games were my initial foray into professional sports.
A year later, I transferred to Indiana University, rode for the Sigma Chi Little 500 team, and settled into an apartment with my high school classmate, Alan. I do not remember going to an I.U. game at the old fieldhouse, but I do recall a blowout win against Notre Dame at the new Assembly Hall. I met George McGinnis at a party and began to follow the Hoosiers. I must have come back to Indianapolis in 1971 from Bloomington to see my high school team compete for a state championship. I couldn’t get tickets for the game that was played at historic Hinkle Fieldhouse on the campus of Butler University where the movie Hoosiers was filmed. I ended up watching the game on TV at the Sigma Chi house across the street. The Blue Blazers topped New Castle, and future I.U. big man, Kent Benson 75-70 in 3-overtimes. Benson led the undefeated Hoosiers to an NCAA title in 1976, an accomplishment that hasn’t since been repeated. A loaded East Chicago Washington squad won the championship game 70-60, but without ticket connections, I must have gone back to Bloomington. Ironically, I would never have to want for a ticket ever again!
I do remember getting excited about I.U. basketball when they made it to the Final Four in 1973 but lost to UCLA. I had a flat tire that morning and badly cut my hand on a piece of glass trying to fix it. I still have the scar as a reminder. The next few years, despite marriage and the birth of Adam, I became obsessed with basketball for the first time since I played in grade school and went to basketball camp.
I began to follow sports even more once I got in the radio business and began to sell sponsorships for Blue Blazers basketball and football, plus Hoosier Hysteria, Notre Dame, Purdue, and I.U. games throughout the season. Eventually, our family moved to Ft. Wayne, another hockey town, anchored by the Comets on our 50,000-watt competitor and music became my major selling point. Free concert tickets and trade were job bonuses. Plus, working with our National rep I began to travel to New York City, Boston, Chicago, and Detroit. I went to Yankee Stadium, Fenway Park, and Tiger Stadium. I also worked a deal with the Chicago Sting and played against the Harlem Globetrotters. However, it wasn’t until I got the job at WIBC radio in Indianapolis that I truly found my calling. I now had the Indianapolis 500, Colts, Indians, and Pacers to promote.
As a newcomer to the Capital City, I was asked by station management to host our suite for the Coca-Cola Circle City Classic. It was more than a football game between two black universities, it was a halftime battle of the band’s extravaganza. Apparently, no one else wanted to do it! This was my first experience with entertaining at events and would become the key to seeing every major sporting event or concert that came to town. The station had suite and hospitality access at Market Square Arena, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Hoosier Dome, and Victory Field. I also made my own partnership deals for racing through The Machinists Union, BRG Sports, Blackburn Sports Marketing, and Indianapolis Raceway Park. Many of these deals transitioned with me when I moved to WISH-TV. In addition, CBS Sports had almost every major sporting event from the Masters to the Superbowl, along with baseball and the Olympics.
Beat The Pro was a promotion we sold at the insistence of my golf-loving boss. I had to spend most weekends on the golf course measuring distances to the pin. The only benefit for me was tickets to a White Sox suite, another memorable sports experience. I also earned a similar day at the park with the Wheel of Fortune syndicators. I was never in a suite at Wrigley, but they did have a club that served hot dogs on fancy Cubs’ china plates. They have since updated their facilities.
During my time in Indy, I attended and worked with the AAA Indians at Bush Stadium where we had both press box seats and season tickets. I once celebrated on the field with Randy Johnson after a league championship. In addition, I frequently took clients to Colts training camp and on the field. World Gymnastics once did an exhibition, the U.S. Track and Field Championships and NCAA Finals provided autograph sessions with Gayle Devers and Michael Johnson, the PGA Championship came to Crooked Stick Country Club, while John Daly was the upset winner. NCAA Swimming and Diving was another big draw for the city. I also had ringside seats for a gruesome light heavyweight bout won by Marvin Johnson. Finally, I sat many times on the floor to watch the Pacers and Reggie Miller, including the NBA Playoffs.
When I moved to Lafayette, it was all Purdue, but I.U. came to town at least once a year in basketball and every other year in football. I quickly learned that when Purdue won, business was better, so I put my Hoosier allegiance on hold. Plus, my mother-in-law was a big Boiler fan, so I presented her with front row seats for a game. I also had press passes, hospitality, and a beautiful stadium suite. I got close to the Purdue Athletic Director, along with Black & Gold Magazine and expanded our local coverage with the Joe Tiller and Gene Keady Shows. My wife was at WISH, so we continued to benefit from suite access to concerts and events. We saw Cathedral, where her girls went to school, win the state high school football title at the Dome. We also went with clients to the RCA Tennis Championships, with hospitality and great seats. During that timeframe, I played on the WISH softball team, as well as the traveling Pearson Group club, that appeared in the Media World Series held in Dallas, Phoenix, and Ft. Lauderdale. Add three more World Series to my list! I would eventually go to Omaha and the College World Series but only as a spectator.
Most of my attention was still focused on racing, like the Indy 500, but I tried to diversify with other speed events like the U.S. National Drags and the Carquest Sprint Series at Raceway Park. They were each a far cry from the New Paris Speedway dirt track and the side-show demolition derby that I went to back in high school. While still part of the Indy media, I once spent an entire IndyCar season as a weekend warrior, going from track to track around the country. I was on the pit crew at Mid-Ohio and worked with sponsors at Elkhart Lake, Michigan International, the Milwaukee Mile, PIR, Monterey, and Laguna Seca. I also got tickets for the inaugural Las Vegas 400 Nascar Race. This all started when we would supplement our broadcast media packages with show car appearances, suite hospitality, driver endorsements, and sponsorship logos. However, in the month of May I was usually at the track with my all-access Gold Badge every day working these partnerships.
Years later, the track expanded to include Nascar’s Brickyard 400, Formula One’s U.S. Grand Prix, an IROC Series, and the Brickyard Crossing PGA Championship. I was there for all four of these inaugural events and in the future secured tickets through my wife to the Daytona 500 and Austin’s Circuit of the Americas. We’ve also used her connections to see the Mariners and Seahawks in Seattle, the MLB All-Star Game/Home Run Derby in Miami, and several Portland Trail Blazer and Timbers MLS games, including a Playoff match. Most of the Blazer games were from the suite, but one was another unforgettable front-row seat.
It’s been a long time since I’ve been back to Bloomington, but I’ve still managed to keep up with I.U. sports. I’ve been to Ann Arbor, Champaign, West Lafayette as previously mentioned, and East Lansing for games and went to Seattle to watch the baseball team play Oregon State at T-Mobile Stadium. I drove to both the Liberty Bowl and Independence Bowl to experience Hoosier football, but never smelled the roses. My wife and I also traveled up to North Texas for an I.U. gridiron loss against the Mean Green. I’ve seen the Hoosiers win at Conseco and Lucas Oil Stadium and lose year after year in the Big Ten Tournament. They did not make the Big Dance when it was held exclusively in Indy, but I was there in the midst of the pandemic. Hoosier soccer fell short in the championship game I attended in Santa Barbara with a college friend. Twice, I’ve followed the Hoosiers to Hawaii for the Maui Classic. On the first occasion I met Bob Knight and got his autograph.
The Oregon Ducks became a favorite when we moved to Portland. I’ve been to both Autzen Stadium and Matthew Knight Arena. I’ve also seen them win in the Rose Quarter aka Moda Center for two Phil Knight events. Oregon State also played there. Plus, friends and I went to two Les Schwab Invitationals to watch several prospective college recruits impress the scouts. While living in central Illinois, we supported the Illini, so Assembly Hall was our new home for basketball and Memorial Stadium for football. I sat with retired Coach Lou Henson for a game.
On the NBA front, I’ve been to America West in Phoenix to watch the Suns, Orlando to see the Magic at Amway Center, and to San Antonio’s AT&T Center for the Spurs, long after that initial big-time-basketball exposure at Milwaukee County Stadium while I was still in college. The Pacers and Blazers were the result of station-owned season tickets. The Knicks were always the favorite team to visit, especially when Reggie and Spike Lee were at each other’s throats.
I’ve never been to the Olympics but have experienced the Olympic Track & Field Trials in Eugene after it was delayed a year due to Covid. I also sat and watched the Olympic Freestyle Championships in both Breckenridge, Colorado and Stowe, Vermont when I was there on ski trips. Speaking of games on ice, exposure to the game of hockey has been sadly limited to the Ft. Wayne Comets, Indianapolis Ice, the Detroit Redwings 50 years ago, and the Portland Winterhawks a few years ago at Veteran’s Memorial Coliseum.
Another of my bucket list goals, was a Super Bowl. We had access to tickets every year but never wanted to pay the price. It likely will never happen, but I certainly can’t complain about a lack of big tickets throughout my lifetime. I thought about going to Miami when the Colts played the Bears, but honestly couldn’t decide on which team to support. My first football love was Johnny Unitas and the Baltimore Colts, who conveniently moved to Indianapolis in the middle of the night. However, the ’85 Bears had pushed the needle once again to Chicago sports. I’ve been to Soldier Field and continue to follow the Bears after all these frustrating years. I’ve worked closely with the Colts players and coaches through the years and have been to several Playoff home games. Road games have been in Houston and Chicago. I saw the Bears play in Indy.
The one Chicago team that has had the most success is the Bulls. I was never a fan and actually picked a suite game the year after Michael Jordan retired. I tried to give them away, but no one was interested. The Pacers Market Square Arena suite was nothing more than a long couch in a closet positioned behind a glass panel. It was hardly fit for entertaining but came with extra tickets and a bartender. At the last minute, I ended up giving them to Adam and hours later M.J. announced his return. They were suddenly the hottest tickets in town and Adam reaped the benefit. His friends were even previously reluctant to go, but I remember his pager (prime technology at that time) buzzing like a hive of wasps on our coffee table just before game time. It was certainly one of his greatest sports moments. We probably could have made a fortune selling them, but scalping was illegal, and they were technically the station’s tickets. I just didn’t want to go through the hassle of unloading them because no one really knew I had somehow picked them at the beginning of the season.
Baseball has endured as a consistent favorite from early childhood throughout today. I’ve already shared my stories of Chicago and Detroit games growing up and the four World Series attended. I never went to a college baseball game in Bloomington but got into it when we lived in Austin and learning the phenomenal record of longtime coach Texas Longhorn coach, Augie Garrido, who won two College World Series in his tenure. It was really the first time that I sat down and watched the entire tournament, inspiring me to attend one day. While in Portland, I began to follow the Oregon State Beavers and went to a few of their games at Hillsboro Stadium, home of the Hops, and at Portland State.
I enjoy baseball but it’s often boring, too many times ideal for a nap. It’s easier to mention the Major League stadiums I haven’t been to: Milwaukee’s Miller Park, Minneapolis, San Diego, Philadelphia, Arlington’s Globe Life Field, Atlanta, Montreal, Arizona, and Oakland. Two stadiums, Coors Field and Progressive Park in Cleveland I’ve only just jogged around, while I saw the Texas Rangers play in their former Arlington home from a luxury suite. Our Dallas TV station carried their games, but Covid prohibited a planned visit to the new facility two years ago. I’ve also been to Minor League Stadiums in Round Rock, Texas to see The Express, Jupiter Beach for the Cardinals, Surprise AZ, Charlottesville FL, Hohocum Scottsdale, and Cool Today, our neighborhood Braves Spring Training facility. The other day I drove around the Baltimore Orioles’ Buck O’Neil complex in nearby Sarasota.
Visits to Cooperstown, the College Football Hall of Fame, and recently the NFL Hall of Fame rekindled many emotional sports memories. Recently, my wife and I went to see our local Venice High School Indians host a football playoff game, with thoughts of her two girls at the Hoosier Dome championship game we all went to before our marriage years ago. My dad gave me a love of sports at all levels, and we shared this passion throughout life. It continues with Adam and his favorite teams since childhood, the Dolphins and Cubs. What will be our next great moment?
I’ve certainly had my share of great stadium accommodations, including luxury suites for the Colts, Pacers, St. Louis Cardinals, Longhorns, Purdue, Texas Rangers, Indianapolis Motor Speedway, Circuit of America, Portland Trailblazers, and Chicago White Sox, plus front-row seats for the Pacers, I.U., Trailblazers, Boilermakers, and Notre Dame. I’ve been on the field, in the pits, sat in the Press Box, celebrated on the court, and frequented numerous VIP sections and hospitality rooms watching a variety of sports from the Domes to the Velodromes. With this in mind, I’m challenged to pick my Top 10 Lifetime Greatest Sports Moments.
Although we didn’t have the usual great seats, we were fortunate to even secure tickets to Game 5 of the first World Series at Wrigley Field to see the Cubs win on Halloween Eve of 2016 (#3). The night before we were there for the loss against the Indians. (#4) Both games will forever be near the top of my list, but overall, I’ve been to four World Series in three cities, Chicago, St. Louis, and Cincinnati. The White Sox opening game win against the Astros at Cellular One in 2005 was the beginning of a four-game sweep. I had media passes for that game and rode with my WAND-TV camera crew. (#5).
Several other unforgettable events for me happened at Wrigley, including Sammy Sosa’s 61st and 62 homers on Sunday, September 13, 1998. (#6) My dad, son, and best friend were with me that day. The following year on Opening Day a special Tribute was held for announcer Harry Karay on April 3rd. He died February 18, 1998, and never got to watch that great season-ending showdown between Mark McGwire and Sosa. McGwire was the home-run king with 70, but both have failed to make the Hall of Fame after steroid suspicions. Adam, Gavyn, and I have a commemorative brick at the park thanks to my wife. The “3-generations” first got together for a game on September 10, 2007, and the Cubs won 12-3 over the rival Cardinals. (#7).
The top two moments on my list would have to be at the Louisiana Superdome in 1987 when I.U. Basketball won the National Championship. Keith Smart’s winning shot happened in front of my eyes on Monday, March 30, 1987, against Syracuse. (#1). Two days earlier, Steve Alford beat UNLV on the same court. (#2) It was an unbelievable road trip with Bill, Mark, and two close friends of Peter, who set the whole trip up but couldn’t go because his father passed.
The three final Top 10 sports moments were more about the transportation than the events themselves. A friend flew me to Bloomington on his private plane from Ft. Wayne for an I.U. basketball game. I don’t remember the date or game details, but this special V.I.P. treatment will always stand out in my mind. (#8). Similarly in 1998, I was whisked into the Indianapolis Motor Speedway by helicopter while entertaining our television station owner, Craig McCaw. A golf cart took us to the Hullman Suite to watch the race and the same chopper brought us back downtown, avoiding the massive crowds. (#9) Last but not least was the Chauferred, PINK limousine that took two close friends and I to a big Monday Night Colts Game at the Hoosier Dome. It was Halloween night, and we wore costumes that you had to see to believe. One buddy and I were dressed as George Dickel whisky bottles with a twist-off cap as headgear. The other pal was Colts running back star Eric Dickerson, but in this case, “Dickelson.” Each of us wore pink tights. On the back of our outfits, it read, “We’re Dickeled Pink to be here.” Never, have we attracted more attention, including a newspaper article with pictures. We, of course, celebrated the victory with shots of George Dickel. (#10).
We had most of our Islandwalk neighbors over last night to celebrate the Lunar New Year. It was a well-behaved group of about 34, but getting everyone drinks was a bit overwhelming when they all showed up at the same time. This is one of the drawbacks of having all the attendees living so close and the tendency to walk down in groups. I’m sure there were a few folks that we left out in the process of texting invitations. We’ve met so many people in the short time we’ve lived here, so it’s difficult trying to decide who to include. My wife also has taken on the responsibility of organizing neighborhood meet-and-greets at the nearby clubhouse, and at these everyone is invited. We have one in a few weeks, as she continues to thrive on party planning.
Tsingtao beer was probably the hit of the evening to wash down the shrimp fried noodles, crab Rangoon, pork tenderloin sliders, egg rolls, egg drop soup shooters, pot stickers, and other Chinese treats. There were also many sweets like Nazook pastry, chocolate covered strawberries, Hershey chocolate kisses, and fortune cookies. Most of the guests brought a dish, hostess gifts, or a bottle of wine to add to the festivities. Everyone got a red envelope parting gift, loaded with more luck than money.
“A red envelope (hongbao in Mandarin, lai see in Cantonese, and ang pow in Hokkien) is a gift of money inserted into an ornate red pocket of paper. They are given on some important occasions, such as Chinese New Year, birthdays, and weddings in China and some other Asian countries as a way to send good wishes.
The color red symbolizes energy, happiness, and good luck in Chinese cultures. Traditional red envelopes are often decorated with beautiful Chinese calligraphy and symbols.”
My wife loves to host parties, while I find them to be an exhausting hassle, considering my voice and hearing issues. I only pick up about half of what people say to me anymore, especially in a large group setting. In this neighborhood, someone is always having a dinner gathering or celebration, and in our case a Sunday night blast was a true indicator that most of our friends are retired, no longer worried about Monday morning work issues. We have another one to attend tonight, just a few houses down, to talk about a potential Mediterranean cruise. Any excuse for a party on any given night!
Our guests last night seemed to have a good time, with too many silly references to “Looney” rather than “Lunar.” It was, after all, a celebration to bring in the “Year of the Rabbit,” so some of our decorations reflected this theme. I immediately thought of the Looney Tunes cartoons that I watched as a child and the Bugs Bunny rabbit character. What’s Up Doc!
I am a hardcore sports fan, but it’s rare when I don’t write about my favorite teams. There are too many times when I’ve wished I’d picked winners to support. I shunned Notre Dame growing up because their fans were obnoxious, spoiled winners. I was fortunate that Indiana University had so many good teams in numerous sports throughout the years.
On last year’s road trip, I stopped by Tuscaloosa, Alabama to see my half-sister, and she graciously took us on a tour of the campus where she works. The University of Alabama is far enough away that I don’t have to put up with their undoubtedly ugly fans. The campus is apparently haunted as the former site of an experimental psychiatric hospital. Plus, I’m sure the ghost of Paul “Bear” Bryant still has a presence, especially on game day. As a fan, my half-sister always ends her notes to me with, “Roll Tide,” so I wrote this poem for her:
Rock, and Roll Tide
In Tuscaloosa,
They’re on a roll.
And hope to rock you,
With the winning goal.
Their mascot,
Has a trunk.
Why is that?
I’ve often “thunk.”
Does it have,
A Red Neck?
Or say Y’ALL?
With due respect.
“Big AL” roams the sidelines,
And leads some cheers.
But he’s got wrinkles,
And Elephant ears.
The campus ghosts,
Come out to play.
And join Bear Bryant,
For each game day.
The fans are pumped,
The stands are packed.
Soon Twenty titles,
Could be a fact.
But Tigers and Bulldogs,
Get in the way.
Gators and Razorbacks,
Think they can play.
They’re led by a man,
Known as Saint Nick.
He’s won seven trophies,
With a temper that’s quick.
Volunteers and Rebels,
Try to compete.
Aggies and Wildcats,
Can’t take the heat.
The red wave is coming,
That will strike them all down.
And all these imposters,
Will be run out of town.
What’s a War Eagle?
Or a Commodore?
Gamecocks extinct,
And Rebels no more.
Bryant-Denny’s,
A special place.
A hundred thousand,
Party space.
Script “A” and Circle,
The logo to wear.
“Dixie’s Football Pride,”
Where losses are rare.
When you go into battle,
Be on the right side.
‘Bama forever,
Rock, and Roll Tide!
Copyright 2023 johnstonwrites.com
I’m not exactly sure when my dining tastes changed from TV dinners to hoity-toity affairs. Growing up in
Elkhart, Indiana the closest thing we had to fine dining was Minelli’s Steakhouse, owned by our next-door neighbor. It was probably my first encounter with linen tablecloths and tuxedo-wearing servers. Otherwise, away from home, it was fancy bars like Michael’s, Flytrap’s, and Nicky-D’s or the McDonald’s drive-thru.
My wife and I have certainly enjoyed our share of fine dining throughout the years. Major dollars have gone into trying some of the finest restaurants around the world. One of the priciest was a dinner at Le Jardin des Sens in Montpellier, France where my wife’s daughter was studying. There were four of us and the check was over $800 U.S. dollars without a lot of expensive wine consumption. I didn’t understand that the tip was included and added a generous amount to bring the total to a tidy grand, since the service was over the top. This was over twenty-years ago, so I can’t imagine what the bill would be today.
Several meals for two have exceeded $600 with drinks and tip. Alinea in Chicago was memorable because one course was a bite of wagyu beef skewered to the tip of a nail and another involved a fragrant pouch of flowers and herbs to enhance the senses. The first impression while entering through a dark hallway were automatic doors suddenly opening to reveal the massive kitchen and the staff greeting us with waves behind the floor-to-ceiling glass pane. It wasn’t enough to serve good food, you also had to perform some magic.
One guaranteed way to boost the bill was to add caviar, oysters, seafood towers, truffles, or pricey liquors. We’ve experienced it all through the hundreds of business meals we’re enjoyed. In this case, we had to make the favorable impression, but the damage was ultimately paid by the company. Then, you sometimes had to justify the expense to your bosses. Fortunately, we had a leader who thrived on over-the-top meals topped with Chateau D’Yquem wine at $500 a bottle. TRU in Chicago was known for their plexiglass stairway of caviar, served as an appetizer. Speaking of big checks from world-renowned chefs, Per Se in NYC was an intimate, romantic setting overlooking Columbus Circle where we celebrated our 5th wedding anniversary, Joel Robuchon in Vegas will always be remembered for their elaborate bread cart, French Laundry was a special treat because it was seemingly impossible to get a reservation, Alain Ducasse au Plaza Athenee in Paris was very French for beaucoup bucks, and Emeril’s Delmonico Steakhouse was the site of our wedding dinner 22-years ago. We also spent an evening with Rick Bayless at his Chicago Frontera Grill and dined in New Orleans at John Besh’s flagship restaurant, August.
My wife has a collection of autographed cookbooks from these famous restaurants and hundreds more. Joe’s Stone Crab is one of her favorites, after many visits to their various locations in Chicago, Las Vegas, Miami, and Washington D.C. On our many trips to the Big Apple, many places come to mind including Peter Lugar, Carnigie Deli, China Grill, Aureole, Il Mulino, Steria Del Circo, Daniel’s, Capital Grill, Tropica, Café Bolud, Four Seasons, Abboccato, Il Nido, Mandarin Oriental, Palm, 21 Club, Ruby Foo’s, and Nobu. Each of these have made big dents in our wallet, although some of these meals were company reimbursed.
One of my first gourmet business meetings took place at The Glass Chimney in Indianapolis. St. Elmo’s then became a dining preference because of their spicy shrimp cocktails. I was once elaborately wined and dined by a boss on an expense account at King Cole, a fancy French restaurant on Monument Circle when I first went to work at the Middlebury Independent. When traveling to Chicago, the restaurant names that come to mind are Bice, Smith & Wolinsky, Shaw’s, Ben Pao, Catch 35, Chicago Cut, and Harry Caray’s. Each visit involved a stop at Garrett’s Popcorn for the ultimate dessert. Just outside of the Windy City in Valparaiso was another of my wife’s favorites, although not fancy, The Strongbow Turkey Inn. She also craved her hometown Dick’s Drive-In where she once worked in high school. They don’t have a cookbook or apparently even shared their recipes.
Another dining mecca, that included some business meals, was flashy Las Vegas. Popular fine dining spots in Sin City that I haven’t already mentioned are Trevi, Emeril’s, Bouchon, Michael’s, Chinois, and Hugo’s Cellar. When we were living in central Illinois our taste buds often led us to Bizou or Montgomery’s. We also loved to go to New Orleans for Bananas Foster at Brenner’s for brunch, or dinners at Nola and Galatoire’s also in the French Quarter. When in D.C. to visit family or Chamber of Commerce trips, we’d dine at L’Enfant, Old Ebbitt’s, Kinkead’s, and Beuchert’s, among others.
When I was first learning the basics of gourmet dining, my wife once made fun of me for asking if squab was hamburger at Tommy Toys in San Francisco. She always seems disgusted with my table manners. We also ate at Alan Wong’s where the appetizer was a delicious, toasted cheese with tomato soup – my kind of gourmet dish. Alan Wong’s is not to be confused with Johnny Wong’s near Warsaw, Indiana, my mother-in-law’s favorite, although they are both serve Chinese fare. Other Golden Gate area dining happened at Kokkari Estiatorio, Farmstead, Tarantino’s, Arguallo, City View, and The Waterbar as I recall.
Just outside of Ft. Wayne, Indiana was an upscale restaurant named Joseph Duquis where we once had a great meal. When I lived and worked there, WMEE Radio issued me a Don Pedro’s credit card, hardly Diners Club, but essentially a limitless supply of Mexican food and drink to share with clients and family. We ate there all the time and sometimes both lunch and dinner. It was a welcome break from all this expensive dining.
Then my wife discovered Outstanding in the Field, a traveling gourmet extravaganza that further stretched our budget. It’s now over $300 bucks a person to attend these events where the white tablecloth stretches as far as the eye can see in an outdoor setting and local celebrity chefs prepare farm-to-table meals. Green Gate Farms near Austin, Big Table outside of Portland, Jacobson Salt on the Pacific Coast, Portland’s Archery Summit, and Brighton Park & Beach in Vancouver, B.C. hosted us for wine and dinner.
I would be remiss if I failed to mention Roy’s, a chain owned by James Beard Foundation award winner Roy Yamaguchi, as one of our best-loved dining treasures, whether in Florida or Hawaii. Misoyaki Butterfish is always my choice with the Chocolate Lava Cake for dessert. Our most recent stop was in Orlando where we’ve also eaten at Victoria & Albert’s for my 50th birthday. I don’t remember what I had, but my wife will surely remember. She never forgets a fine dining moment. All I recall was the harp player’s odd rendition of “Margaritaville.” Il Mulino recently opened a Disney-area outlet that we tried last year with family after that great experience in NYC.
It’s difficult to recognize all of our numerous fine-dining experiences, but thanks to my diary I’ve listed a pretty wide range. While in Bangkok, we researched choices and selected Wat Phra and Thanying. Viking Cruises and the Marriott Vacation Club have taken us to some distant places. On-board meals at Manfredi’s, Mamsen’s, The World Cafe, The Restaurant, and the Chef’s Table have been outstanding without the burden of picking up a hefty check.
Our marriage has followed a trail of food from Indiana through Illinois, Texas, Oregon, and Florida. We both had a life of fine food long before we met, otherwise this post would be twice as long as it is. Austin was all about BBQ, having sampled Franklin, Salt Lick, Black’s, Rudy’s, County Line, Stubbs, and Lockhart. Congress Restaurant downtown was a pricey choice for my 55th birthday, followed by a more affordable Magnolia Cafe for breakfast with Tinker, who would have preferred to be at her picnic spot behind Rudy’s.
We then moved to Portland, Oregon where Castagna, Aviary, Le Pigeon, Farm Spirit, Cocquine, Pardner’s, Firehouse Pizza, Blue Hour, Ava Gene’s, Dukahbee, Nonna Emelia, Roe, Laurelhurst, Hairy Lobster, Mingo, and Holdfast became her local favorites, along with Mucca Osteria where her daughter’s wedding reception took place. We left them all behind to retire in Florida, where dining is much more casual. The fanciest establishments here so far have been Sarasota’s Michaels on East, where my son once bought me dinner, and popular Prime Steakhouse. We both now agree that we’ve pretty much seen it all when it comes to extraordinary fine dining. It’s probably not worth the money anymore. Cracker Barrel here we come!
