Thoughts About The Coming New Year

Now that the holidays are almost over, most peoplewill have two things on their minds: New Year’s Eveplans, and New Year’s resolutions.

I don’t have the money to go out and spend $125 to goto a party and get free booze for a few hours, thenpay out of my rear end for booze the other hours ofthe night. Then again, who does? But will that stoppeople from spending hundreds of dollars on New Year’sEve because it’s the cool thing to do? I mean, it’slike everyone in the club is like watching and you will be like a loser if you don’t like kiss someone atmidnight. Like.

I know it is one of the bigger party nights of theyear, and everyone likes to go out on New Year’s Eveand have a good time, me included. Bars and clubs allaround have specials. Some are great, some are not.I’m sure there are some celebrities that no one caresabout who are hosting parties somewhere.

For South Siders, our best bets are probably the Irishbars on Western Avenue or the Bourbon Street tavern.But who has the money this year to spend $100 on aticket to a party?As for resolutions... Some are going to get intobetter shape, and others will look for a better job.Good luck! Some will say they will quit smoking,drinking or whatever they do too much of. Only a fewwill actually make it, and most will give up onwhatever their resolution is. Most will be good for amonth or two, then return to their old ways.

Notice how gym ads want you to pay for the entire yearupfront? This way, they have your money and they don’tcare if you go or not. No gym will have apay-as-you-go month to month special.Many people wish for something beyond their control(like rooting for the Cubs to win a World Series thisyear) or set themselves up to fail, like quittingsmoking or losing weight, but go about it the wrongway.With the economy the way is it, people will seem happythat they do have a fresh start. Love him or hate him,there is a change in the president. Many people aregoing to feel better just hearing those words, somemight get sick.But the new year is a chance to better yourself, butit shouldn’t start on Jan. 1.

It is also the time we get bombarded with all thesetop lists of the year. Best movie, best actor, bestdressed, worst dressed, blah blah blah. So with thatin mind, here is my biased lists for 2008.Biggest story of the year: Barack Obama electedpresident. It doesn’t matter your feelings, it is thebiggest story of the year. Worst story of the year:Blagojevich. Again, love him or hate him, he was theworst thing to happen to Illinois this year.Best movie: “The Dark Knight,” and an honorablemention to “Rambo.” Worst movie I saw: “RighteousKill.” Pacino plus DeNiro does not always equal good.Best Album: “Death Magnetic” by Metallica. The worstalbum was almost everything else.

The best national sports story might have to beMichael Phelps and, locally, the rise of theBlackhawks. Worst sports story nationally again has tobe steroids, with Roger Clemens added to the mix, andlocally it was — after a great summer for both Chicagobaseball teams — how quickly they both exited from theplayoffs.

Best television show season was “The Sopranos.” Worsttelevision show season: any and all reality shows.

This is my list, and I hate such shows. I also lostinterest in “Heroes” this season.Best dressed...kidding.I once heard someone say that when you come to adecision in life, “take the one that will provide thebest memory.” Now that might not always apply, andthere might be some other variables that go into thedecision, but it’s not a bad idea either.I hope everyone had a very merry Festivus!

(Chuck Salvatore is a reporter for the SouthwestNews-Herald. He may be reached at (773) 476-4800, ext.241, at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com or atchucksalvatore.blogspot.com. Also don’t forget tocatch him every Thursday on the Linda Padgurskis showfrom noon to 1 p.m., and every Friday on the“Out’N’About” talk show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3p.m. He will also guest host Friday, Dec. 26 on RadioChicagoland, Mornings with Ray Hanania, all on WJJG1530 AM.)

Is Blago bad apple? Or just the one to get caught???

So, Gov. Blagojevich was taken into federal custody early Tuesday morning by federal agents. Having read the 76 page complaint with the charges, accusations and semi transcripts of conversations he allegedly had i was shocked.

The first thought was how could he try and sell President-elect Barack Obama’s U.S. Senate seat? Everyone in this state knew that he was being investigated by the government. Did he feel he couldn’t get caught, or it would be further down the line or just didn’t give a damn.

Did Blago ever watch “The Sopranos,” they always talk about how you can’t talk on the phone. How could he not think the feds would wire taps his phones. Any “mobster” knows you don’t talk on the phone. Why do you think Tony Soprano always went to the BaDaBing to use the payphone, so the feds couldn’t listen. Common sense, if your friends have been indicted by the feds, they are investigating you and you are trying to illegally sell a Senate seat, DO NOT TALK ON THE PHONE.

Was Blago just abusing the system or is this something that happens all the time with our elected officials and the Governor just the only one who got caught?
With a history of governors going to jail, I think that answers the question. It was hard to trust state politicians before this, will the public trust elected officials statewide now that this has happened?

So Blagojevich tried to blackmail the Tribune Company, sell Obama’s Senate seat and other pay to play schemes. Wow, the stones on this guy!

Now state Sen. Jesse Jackson Jr., has admitted he is “Senate Candidate 5” who was featured in the wire taps. Jackson said he did nothing wrong and was told by US Attorney Patrick Fitzgerald he was not part of this investigation. I am not casting the blame or the first stone, but I find it suspicious that Jackson met with the Governor for more than an hour on Monday.

Didn’t Fitzgerald say he moved so quickly to stop a crime spree?

Did Fitzgerald act because they felt Blagojevich was going to name someone to the Senate seat and they felt they had to act before someone was named. I would be willing to bet there was someone out there who was willing to pay for the seat. And that is why Fitzgerald moved so fast.

I am just saying right now I don’t trust anyone involved in this situation. I don’t believe Obama had anything to do with this, I don’t think he as dumb as the governor.

Blago does not have to step down, but there is no way he can legitimately name someone to the US Senate seat. Nor could any of the other deals he makes be taken seriously. Speaker of the House, Michael Madigan has had it in for Blago for a while and I believe he will go after Blago and try to impeach him. If one Madigan doesn’t the other will. The other is Lisa Madigan, Attorney General, who is after Blagojevich’s job. My guess when the Madigan's heard about Blago being arrested, they were smiling.

I would be willing to bet that Blagojevich will not resign. After reading the transcripts Blago is too cocky and arrogant to resign. Resigning would almost be like admitting guilt. He will fight this to the end, where ever it might end.
If these allegations are proven true, which they haven’t been yet, then this will be the most embarrassing actions of any Illinois politician.

The faster Lt. Gov. Pat Quinn becomes the governor the better it is for the state. He can quickly and quietly name someone to Obama Senate seat or I have heard Quinn say he would let the people decide through an election. Can you imagine that, an elected official letting the people deiced something.

What is Quinn stupid, does he realize he has a gold mine? He can’t give that seat away for free!

About Yule Music (Ugh) And The Hawks (Yay!)

“Sleigh bells ring, are you listening, In the lane, snow is glistening...” STOP IT!

It’s too early to be listening to these dumb Christmas songs. This year when I turned on WLIT (93.9 FM) on Nov. 14, I first heard Christmas music — a full 14 days before Thanksgiving and 42 before Christmas.

Now without sounding like a Grinch, I have to say this is a little too early for a station to be playing Christmas music. What happened to starting after Turkey Day, or just waiting until Dec. 1, because 24 days before the holiday is bad enough. But to torch us for 42 days is just too much.

Did you ever stop and wonder why people are never in the holiday spirit? Maybe this stupid tradition has something to do with it. By starting the music this early, by the time Dec. 19 arrives, people are sick to death of hearing the same 14 songs on repeat. Usually by the midway point of December, I just want Christmas to be over so I don’t have to listen to the music anymore.

People always say my generation is out of touch with the holiday. Well, it’s your fault! This holiday has become so commercialized that it’s overbearing. Decorations were up in stores and on street poles, BEFORE HALLOWEEN!

Stop playing Christmas music before Thanksgiving or just wait till Dec. 1.

* * *

I was too young to remember “the roar.” It might not be the same, but there is something special happening on Madison Street. It’s not just the fact that home games are on television or some games are broadcasted on WGN. But being in the arena and standing while the national anthem is being sung is once again putting goose bumps on Hawks fans around the city.
It’s been far too long since this Original Six franchise has meant something. With key additions on and off the ice, something special is happening.

The Blackhawks matter again!

That will be evident when the Hawks host the Red Wings on Jan. 1 at Wrigley Field in the NHL’s new pride and joy, “The Winter Classic.”
The team hasn’t made the playoffs since the 2001-02 season, when it was swept in the first round by the Blues. Their attendance in seasons to follow was a joke. But this year, the Hawks lead the league in attendance. For years, no one knew who any of the players were.

Now, Kane, Toews, Khabibulin and Seabrook are household names. Well, Kane and Toews are anyways. But there are two others names that have a lot to do with the recent success: “Rocky” Wirtz and John McDonough. Since William Wirtz died and his son “Rocky” took over, it seems every decision that has been made was the right one, including hiring former Cubs front office man, McDonough.

The two have done everything they can to bring the best players on the ice and the fans in the seats. Expectations are high for this team to not only make the playoffs but contend for the Cup, and I think it can do both. The Hawks have a lot of young, talented players who should be on this team for years to come and continue to make “da Hawks” a force to be reckoned with in the NHL.

Chuck Salvatore is a general assignment reporter for the Southwest News-Herald. He may be reached at (773) 476-4800, ext. 241, at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com or at www.chucksalvatore.blogspot.com. Be sure to catch Chuck every week on the Linda Padgurskis show from noon to 1 p.m., on Thursdays and The Out ‘N’ About talk show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3 p.m. every Friday, both on WJJG 1530 AM. Chuck will also guest host for Ray Hanania on Friday, Nov. 28, from 8 to 9 a.m.

Take a Lesson From The Kids, Have Fun!

Well it’s fall and there are a few things I love about this time of year: the World Series, football season and Halloween. No longer do I dress up and go out trick-or-treating. More like I dress up, go out with friends and look for a sweet treat of a different kind! I am not going to lie, it’s a fun “holiday”.

Another great part of this time of year is hearing all the ghost stories and reading about our city, which has a lot of paranormal activity.This week, I wrote a story on Resurrection Mary. Growing up in Clearing, the story of the hitchhiking ghost was something everyone had heard. Before writing the story, I had never met anyone or knew anyone who knew someone who had an encounter with her, yet everyone knows about her.

Is most of her legend made up? I don’t know. I am not sure exactly how I feel about ghosts. While doing the story, I talked to some people who truly believe they have had an encounter with a spirit, so much that while talking to them you kind of start to believe them.

I guess ghosts and UFOs/aliens fall into the same category — that they are one of those things people just don’t talk about because they are afraid of what others might say. Maybe it is because, as kids, everyone is scared of ghost stories because of movies, and a part of us just doesn’t want to believe in ghosts. Maybe for some it is a religious thing or others want to believe that when you die, you don’t have to be stuck on earth. And I don’t blame those people. Who would want to be stuck here after death?

It makes you wonder. If there are spirits on this earth, why do they stay? Do they look out for the living? Do they want to mess with the living? Do they want revenge, or do they just want to have fun? And if they are stuck here, how long do they have to stick around? Can they interfere with the living, or can they summon a giant marshmallow man to destroy New York City?

I’ve driven around Resurrection Cemetery hundreds of times and I have gone to other alleged haunted places, but haven’t seen anything. When we hear of people who have seen a ghost or UFO, our first reaction is to think they are ether on drugs or nuts.

Maybe it is because I haven’t seen a ghost that I am not sure of their existence. I am not denying they are out there, just not sure.

Halloween is also when old horror movies are played on various TV channels. I have seen some of these modern horror films, and honestly they are awful. It’s the same stupid movie, with the same boring killer and the same young chick with bad acting skills.

The older horror movies from the 1970s and ’80s are much better. These are the same movies that are being turned into really bad remakes.

Part of the alure for all age groups is that Halloween is a day to get dressed up and be someone you are not. For kids, it’s more fun to run around pretending to be someone else and to go out and get lots of candy. For adults, it’s about stepping out of the reality — that they hate their job, the economy is awful, they are divorced or whatever reason they have. They use Halloween as a day to get dressed up and escape from themselves and be someone else for a day, while getting drunk and playing silly games and trying to get some.

So who cares how old you are? Go enjoy the night!

(Chuck Salvatore is a general assignment reporter for the Southwest News-Herald. He may be reached at (773) 476-4800, ext. 241, at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com or at chucksalvatore.blogspot.com. Also don’t forget to catch him every Thursday on the Linda Padgurskis show from noon to 1 p.m. and on Fridays from 2 to 3 p.m. on the Out‘N’About talk show with Ron and Joe, both on WJJG AM 1530.)

One Final Look At Baseball’s ‘Cathedral’

Sunday night was a sad night in the world of sports. It was the night Yankee Stadium held its last baseball game before being torn down so the team can play in a new and bigger facility across the street.

On Sept. 15, I was able to enter Yankee Stadium for the first and only time and watch the Yankees beat the White Sox. It was special being there, knowing that in a week the Yankees would no longer call the stadium home.

A lot of people hate the Yankees because ownership has unlimited money to spend and people say they buy championships, which is kind of silly because everyone tries to buy championships. But regardless of how you feel about the New York Yankees, if you are a sports fan you have to admit some of the best baseball moments, ever, happened in the cathedral known as Yankee Stadium.

Some of the best players to ever play the game, Babe Ruth, Lou Gehrig, Joe DiMaggio, Mickey Mantle, Roger Maris, Yogi Berra, Reggie Jackson and a current player like Derek Jeter — love him or hate him, he is one of the better clutch players in the last 10 to 15 years — have called Yankee Stadium home. Ruth hit the first home run there and catcher Jose Molina, number 26, hit the last one Sunday night.

After the last game on Sunday, Jeter addressed those in attendance. It was an amazing sight and will always be remembered.

I don’t recall the closing of any other stadium getting this much national attention. People who hate New York (these same people probably have never been there) and hate the Yankees will say the attention is only because it’s the Yankees and the media loves them.Well yes, it is because it is the Yankees.

They have won 26 world titles in that stadium and the best in the history of the sport have played there. Everyone has their favorite memories at Yankee Stadium, or moments they remember watching on television.While I was at the game Sept. 15, I remember when Jeter came up to bat, just one hit away from breaking the record for most hits ever at Yankee Stadium. That was the loudest stadium I have ever been in, everybody wanted to see Jeter get the hit in a lost season. Jeter went 0-4 in that game, and I saw the highlights from the next day’s game, where on his first time up to bat, he rifled a ball into left field for a base hit breaking the record.

But the game I attended was also when Mariano Rivera passed Lee Smith to be second on MLB’s all-time saves list with 479. Sitting in left field, as “Enter Sandman” played, and watching Rivera jog onto the field as I have so many times on television gave me chills.I feel bad for Mets fans because Shea Stadium will also close its doors this year for the new CitiField built across the street. Why is there not a big outcry for the Mets, besides Billy Joel? But I did get to go to Shea Stadium on Sept. 12. Unfortunately, the game never started and was called because of rain. So my time at Shea Stadium was spent sitting in the rain eating a slice of pizza and a very nasty hot dog.

The next day the Mets played a doubleheader, but the tickets to my game were not good during the second contest.

As a fan of baseball you hate to see the old stadiums get torn down, but realize that because of corporate sponsorship it is going to happen. During the Yankee game I began talking to a few New Yorkers who were a little upset about the prices of the tickets to the new Yankee Stadium. (Man, is beer expensive at those games: $8 for a plastic bottle that is 16 ounces.)
It was special to see a game in Yankee Stadium, especially during the last year. What made it extra special was that the White Sox lost!

(Chuck Salvatore is a reporter for the Southwest News-Herald. He may be reached at (773) 476-4800, ext. 241, at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com or at chucksalvatore.blogspot.com. Also, don’t forget to catch him every Thursday on the Linda Padgurskis show from noon to 1 p.m. and every Friday on the Out’N’About show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3 p.m., both on WJJG 1530 AM, with his weekly sports report.)

Ultimate Fighting Fits Right In City Bar Scene

(This appeared in the Aug. 29, edition of the Southwest News-Herald)

So after years of waiting, Chicago will be host to Ultimate Fighting Championship (UFC) 90, on
Oct. 25 at the Allstate Arena. Letting UFC come to Chicago is one of the few things Gov. Blagojevich has done during these past few years that I agree with.Mixed Martial Arts (MMA) fighting is not an up-and-coming sport anymore. It is here. Just look at the pay-per-view numbers. MMA is producing stars who are entering other forms of entertainment, like “The Ice Man” Chuck Liddell, who guest starred on an episode of “Entourage.”

Go to any of the sports bars around the city and suburbs on a night when UFC is on. Hundreds of people, including the girls, gather at the bar to cheer on their favorite fighter.During a UFC fight not only can you see great knockouts but disturbing submissions. The excitement of watching two people fight in a variety of different styles is fun and great to watch, and you will get caught up in the action. I’m glad UFC is finally allowed to come to Chicago.

The main event is scheduled to be UFC middleweight champion Anderson Silva defending the belt against number one contender Patrick Cote. This could be a classic fight. Give UFC a chance, plus you get more bang for your buck than with boxing or WWE.

* * * *

Earlier this year I took two improv classes for a company called pH (whatisph.com), and after each of the classes ended we had to perform a show. They perform shows at the Stage Left Theater in Wrigleyville.

Stage fright and speaking in front of a large group of others is something that has always bothered me a little. But I’ve heard that if you are scared of something the best thing to do is confront it head on. So I confronted it head on and I loved it!

I’m not going to lie. The day of the first show I was a little nervous until the lights went off. Then I was more nervous. When the lights were off, the only thing I was thinking was something to the effect of “what am I doing here? I’m not funny. What was I thinking?” But also throw in a four-letter word about 50 times in those phrases to get what I was really saying.
I am glad I decided to take the improv classes, because after trying to perform comedy, there is not a lot of scarier situations that I can think of that I would run into on a daily basis.

The first class was about little games to play to get your creative juices flowing and to get you used to thinking on your feet. As a reporter, I have to be able to think on my feet a lot as an everyday part of my job. Now I am not going to play the “Fred Schneider (B-52’s) what are you doing” game before I go to a press conference. For the record, the Fred
Schneider voice was one of the hardest parts of the classes.

Level two was character development. Sorry, I did have a lot of fun using some of you out there as characters in the class. For the show we had to ask questions of the audience for our characters, and I can’t type two of the characters I had to act out, but they were good suggestions.

As scared as I was before the shows, when the show started and we got that first laugh, all the stage fright went away and I just tried to have fun.

The class was a lot of fun. I recommend everybody out there who likes to go to comedy shows or likes to watch other forms of comedy to give a class a try.

I had a blast doing improv at pH and look forward to doing more there, so pay attention and you might see me headlining one day.

(Chuck Salvatore is a reporter for the Southwest News-Herald. He may be reached at (773) 476-4800, ext. 241, at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com, or at chucksalvatore.blogspot.com. Also, don’t forget to catch him every Thursday on the Linda Padgurskis show from noon to 1 p.m. and every Friday on the Out ‘N’ About show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3 p.m., both on WJJG 1530 AM, with his bi-weekly sports reports.)

Have Your Heard? ‘The Dark Knight’ Is Here

(This appeared in the July 25th edition of the Southwest News-Herald)

You have not been able to pick up a magazine or newspaper or turn on the television or radio in the last two and a half weeks without someone talking about “The Dark Knight.” Most of the attention is due to two reasons — it is one of the best comic book films of all time and because of the death of Heath Ledger.

I saw the movie this past weekend, and all of the rave reviews are well worth it. It was not only the best comic book movie ever made, but one of the best action movies ever made, as well. Everything from the dialogue, story, actors, camera work and seeing Chicago as Gotham City was spectacular.I’m going to try and not give away any spoilers, even though millions of people went to see it the first weekend, breaking “Spiderman 3’s” opening record.

The story evolves around Batman, again played by Christian Bale, and Lt. James Gordon, again played by Gary Oldman, of the Gotham Police Department, still fighting to take down the mob. Gotham’s new district attorney, Harvey Dent, played by Aaron Eckhart, joins the two heroes to take down the mob. The mob, who has been scared since Batman arrived, gets taken over by the Joker, played by Ledger.

The story is centered around the three men trying to take down the mob and stop the Joker from killing more people. Much is being made about if Ledger will get nominated for an Best Supporting Actor Oscar. I’m not sure if he will, but he should. And for the record, I would still be saying that if he were still alive.

Ledger is amazing in this movie as the most evil incarnation of the Joker we have ever seen on film, a lot better than Jack Nicholson. He is evil personified and is great in the role, which you can tell he was having a lot of fun playing. But, so is the rest of the cast. Eckhart is great as Dent and ultimately his alter ego, Two-Face.As the movie moves along, so does Dent’s actions and temper until he is transformed into the villain. Oldman is terrific as a cop who doesn’t want to believe in police corruption and is willing to do what it takes to stop the mob and the Joker.

Bale plays Batman this time as a torn hero. He is torn because the woman he loves is in love with Dent. But Bruce Wayne is also torn because he knows his enemies are not afraid of him because of Batman’s vow not to kill anyone. All four men share about the same amount of screen time, because it is a story that revolves around all of them and how they change at the end of the movie. Actually, the Joker is the one character that doesn’t change. He just wants to create chaos.

The last 30 minutes of the film keeps you on the edge of your seat wondering how this will all end.The interrogation scene with Gordon and the Joker then Batman and the Joker is among the films most memorable scenes. The car chase filmed on Lower Wacker Drive is amazing to see in IMAX. And the battle with Batman and the Joker at the films climax was also memorable where the Joker delivers a classic line that explains the bizarre relationship between Batman and the Joker, in the comic books.

There are other good performances in the film. Portraying Rachel Dawes is Maggie Gyllenhaal, who replaces and is a big step up from Katie Holmes. Returning are Michael Cane as Alfred, Bruce Wayne’s butler, and Morgan Freeman as Lucius Fox, the man at the head of Wayne Enterprises. These are the only three who know Batman’s true identity.I can’t recommend this film enough. Even if you are not a big super hero or comic book movie fan, the performances are amazing, the story has a lot of elements but flows naturally.
Go see it!

(Chuck Salvatore is a reporter for the Southwest News-Herald. He can be reached at (773) 476-4800 ext. 241, or at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com. Also don’t forget to catch him every Thursday on the Linda Padgurskis show from noon to 1 p.m. and every Friday on the Out ‘N’ About show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3 p.m., both on WJJG 1530 AM with his bi-weekly sports reports.)

Sing the Praises of The Cubs, But not TV

We have all met the cool “hipsters” who will be the first to shout out that they don’t watch anything on television, and we all agree that we know they actually do.I am becoming one of those people, not because I want people to think I don’t watch television, but because I don’t like most of the shows on television.

I hate “Reality TV.” And I have given up on most sitcoms, and don’t like the crime scene investigator shows. Really, I don’t like most shows on free TV, with the exception of “Family Guy” and the ever so (un)popular (depending on who you ask) “24”.The shows I actually do watch are on cable stations, like FX, HBO and ShowTime. These shows are not only better written and acted, but they can get away with more language and content, thus making the shows more entertaining.

The nice thing is these shows are on only for two months at a time, so you don’t have to commit to a full season of episodes, not knowing when they will air new episodes and reruns.One of my favorite shows, “Rescue Me,” should be starting this month, but because of the writers strike it is being moved back until March. So now, for the summer, I might become a “hipster” and stop watching the junk on TV and read one of the four or five books I have been meaning to pick up for the last few months.

* * * * * * *

This week, I have been strutting around the South Side with an extra smile. Just because my beloved Cubs swept the Sox in a three game series for the second time in two years. I realize my tune might change by the time you read this because game the first contest of the three-game series will be going on at U.S. Cellular Field.What a weekend series the first set of games were.

The Cubs came from behind in two of the three games, something they have done a lot of this year. Then Sunday came and the Sox just never got clutch hitting, something that has happened to them a lot this year.I predict the Cubs will take the season series by at least winning one of the games at the Cell.

I hope they take two out of three just so I can rub it in all my South Side friends’ faces.I think this weekend, at least twice, all of us South Side Cubs fans — and I know there are a lot of you out there — will be singing, “Go Cubs Go” through-out U.S. Cellular Field.I also know that in the great scheme of things these three-game series don’t mean that much to either team. Neither team will win or lose their division because of interleague play in June. It is just nice that last year the Cubs took five out of six, and have started this year with a three-game sweep.It is weird living on the South Side wearing Cubs gear during these weekends.

I am use to most of the insults Sox fans say to me about me and the Cubs. Most Sox fans hint at my sexuality for being a Cubs fan. I am not offended because I know Sox fans don’t know any better, and that is all they can think of to try to insult me. The insults are all the same, and they reference the fact the Sox won the World Series in 2005.

While I can’t dispute the Sox won the World Series in ’05, the other insults are just childish and dumb.Never mind the fact that most Cubs fans are die-hard fans yet get the reputation that they don’t care about the game and just go to Wrigley Field to drink.

While that may be the case for some Cubs fan, I would guess that just as many Sox fans don’t care about the game and are just there because it is something cool to do.Right now, I am happy the Cubs are in first place and have a great home record.

I know there is still a lot of the season left to be played, but I’m happy they beat the Sox and will have three more chances to beat them some more.For now, I will be singing, “Go Cubs Go! Go Cubs Go!...”

Fun in Chicago, But What About SW Side?

Summer is my favorite time of year in Chicago. There are plenty of things to do in the city, where you can enjoy being outside enjoying the weather, places and people that make this the best city in the world. There are tons of festivals, concerts and other events that everyone can go to and enjoy during the next few months (including games played by two first-place baseball teams).

The problem is that all of the events worth going to are either downtown or on the North Side. The Southwest Side and even the entire South Side are missing exciting festivals or events. The First Midwest Bank Amphitheater in Tinley Park and Toyota Park in Bridgeview do hold concerts during the summer and get some great bands/acts/line-ups. But all of the fun fests or fun exciting events are a bit of a drive away from all of us. We do have church carnivals or family fests, but let’s be honest: Those are dull and boring. And you will see the same people you see every other weekend.

When there is entertainment, usually the acts are not that good. I am not saying that every event downtown or on the North Side is good, just that most are better than what we have here on the South/Southwest Side. I should just note that I hate the Taste of Chicago. I think it’s because I usually go on a Saturday and I walk out of the Taste hating the human race. I know there are also a bunch of festivals in the surrounding suburbs. While most of them are a little bit better than any city festival around here, they are not much better.

Usually, the ’burbs charge you an outrageous fee to get in, and the musical acts —while better — are 10 to 15 years past their 15 minutes of fame. Plus, when going to the suburb fests, there is never a place to park. And you can’t “have a few” because you have to drive, and most of these fests close pretty early.

Chicago Improv Festival, Blues Fest, Ribfest, Chicago Summer Fest, Pizza Fest, Outdoor Film Fest, Wing Fest, Windy City Wine Fest, Wicker Park Fest, Celtic Fest and May Fest (going on this weekend) are all either downtown or on the North Side. What does the Southwest Side get: St. Church’s family fest with two restaurants that will have pizza and elephant ears. The closest city fest that I would check out is the Taste of Taylor Street.

I would love to go to these festivals downtown and on the North Side, but with gasoline near $5 a gallon and the CTA Orange Line that stops running around 1 a.m., it will be hard to get to the events I would like to go to.Speaking of gasoline costing almost $5 a gallon, does anyone else find it funny that gas really started to get bad in the city after the sales tax was raised and citizens said they would start to drive outside of “Crook County” to buy items? I’m not saying anything, but I’m just saying.
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I know this is a cell phone obsessed world and even fetuses have the new Sprint plan. But is it me, or do people just go overboard with their cell-phone use?Recently at a concert I attended, there was a group of people standing right in front of me taking pictures of the stage. Now, we were about 50 yards from the stage, and the lead singer looked to be about two feet tall.

Through most of the concert, they were trying to capture that special moment with their cell phone camera. Now, I don’t know what kind of phone they are packing or how great the lens is on their phone, but on my phone the lead singer would be too small to make out. Do they really think they are going to get a good picture with their phone?

They must have because each must have tried to take 15 pictures. Another thing I noticed while at the concert is the people who have to call their friends when a song is being played and let their friends listen from home. Someone did this to me once. I hung up on them because it sounds awful.And to the people who have to sing a song the band has not yet played during that one-minute break in between songs, shut-up!

(Chuck Salvatore is a reporter for the Southwest News-Herald. He may be reached at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com or (773) 476-4800, ext. 241. Or you may reach him on the Web at www.chucksalvatore.blogspot.com. Also, don’t forget to listen to his “White Sox and Sports Report” every Friday on “The Out ‘N’ About” talk show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on WJJG AM 1530.)

Yes, We Will Survive Earthquakes, Cougars

Cougars and earthquakes, oh my!

When I first heard about a cougar on the loose, I thought to myself, well yeah, that happens all the time. There are cougars all over the place stalking the not so innocent.Then I realized they were talking about an actual cougar. Hours later, the news broke that a cop shot and killed the cougar.

Again, my thoughts were about a wild and crazy cougar (not the animal) on the prowl, who was so wild and so full of passion that she had to be put down. Then I remembered they were talking about the animal cougar, and not the other kind of cougar. (The term “cougar” is given to an older woman who goes to bars and clubs, hoping to feast on innocent young men like prey).
A few days later, there was an earthquake in the southern part of the state. Now I was sleeping and did not wake up. Honestly, I don’t think a marching band playing outside my room would wake me up.

The earthquake was felt in Indianapolis, St. Louis, Milwaukee and, from one report I read, all the way down to Florida.

Don’t you just love those people who will tell you they were woken up by the earthquake and their whole room started shaking, dressers were falling down, windows exploded and their dog was barking? For hours. I never believe most of those people. I’m sure there are plenty of us out there who did feel the earthquake, and did not know what was going on, which is always a scary situation.

I’m surprised I didn’t hear anyone talk about how the earthquake was a sign that God was unhappy with us, and it was his way of warning us. Because usually, when events like this happen, people start screaming that it’s the end of the world as we know it, and that Armageddon is upon us.

I don’t think Armageddon is upon us. Other strange occurrences would have to happen besides earthquakes like “tornadoes, volcanoes, fire and brimstone, human sacrifices, cats and dogs living together, Mass Hysteria!,” to quote Bill Murray from “Ghostbusters.”The other thing I am sick of already is all these scientific reports that usually follow an event like this, and already we have heard our fair share of warnings.

Some state that if the fault in Illinois shifted, the earthquake could be just as dangerous or more dangerous than the fault in California. Other sites, including Seattle, are overdue for an earthquake that could destroy the city, which could create another terrible tsunami in Asia.
Moving on to something else that bothers me is celebrities who have to announce — like it’s a big deal and we actually care what they think — who they are endorsing for president. Honestly, does anybody care who some actor/musician/celebrity/reality star wants to win the office? I sure don’t.

I hate when they make a big deal about it and go on talk shows and talk about how great this particular candidate is and then throw in the plug for their new album or movie. No one cares what you think.

Instead, stop telling us who you are going to endorse, just play your guitar or read your script and stop using your celebrity status to try and get fans to vote for the candidate you want to win.

Speaking of presidential candidates and celebrities, if Barack Obama wins, I think the first person he should thank is Jeri Ryan, the television star and ex-wife of Jack Ryan. Jack Ryan had to drop out of the 2004 Illinois Senate race, where he was running as a Republican against Obama, because of an alleged sex scandal involving Ryan and his ex-wife.

If Obama wins, forget thanking Oprah or those people. Obama should thank Jeri Ryan and the judge that let those custody hearing records get out. If not for those records getting out, who knows if Obama would have won that race against Ryan.

(Chuck Salvatore is a reporter for the Southwest News-Herald. He may be reached at chucksalvatore@hotmail.com or (773) 476-4800, ext. 241. Also, don’t forget to listen to his “White Sox and Sports Report” every Friday on “The Out ‘N’ About” talk show with Ron and Joe from 2 to 3:30 p.m. on WJJG AM 1530.)

Log onto the Southwest News-Herald web site at www.swnewsherald.com