Jim Palmer, one of the greatest pitchers in Major League Baseball history, will be joining Billy and Frank on the April 19thepisode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Palmer, the winningest MLB pitcher during the 1970s with 186 wins, has also won 3 Cy Young Awards as the best pitcher in MLB. He was also a 20-game winner in eight seasons and is the winningest pitcher in Baltimore Orioles history with 268 wins.…
Since learning that Jim Palmer, the great Hall of Fame pitcher of the Baltimore Orioles, will be an upcoming guest on the podcast, A Mick A Mook and A Mic, many fond baseball memories came to mind. While I played three sports in my younger days, baseball was my favorite…and probably the one in which I played best. Since I lived only a short walk to a park with three baseball fields, I remember playing…
(Ed. Note: Frank Pace – The Mook – produced Don Rickles series, DADDY DEAREST. Frank didn’t write this blog, but he could have.) ,Don Rickles has been gone for exactly 6 years. He made it to the age of 90, and for about 65 of those years, Don Rickles made people laugh…and laugh hard. Not all people found Don funny, and that’s fine. If he wasn’t your cup of tea, or if he made you…
David Vincent Williams is a country music singer-songwriter who has written over 550 songs. His songs have been recorded and released by major country recording artists, including: “I’m Movin‘ On” by Rascal Flatts, Ty Herndon’s “Hands of a Working Man” and James Otto’s “Just Got Started Lovin’ You”. Williams will be joining Billy and Frank on the April 12th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Born in Houston, Texas, Williams spent his…
With the 2023 Men’s Final Four decided, only one team heading to Houston has made it to the event before. UConn will be making their 6th Final Four appearance. The others – San Diego State, Florida Atlantic, and Miami have never been to the prestigious event. I guess gone are the days of North Carolina, UCLA, Duke, Kentucky, and Kansas making their regular appearances. I must admit, I’m not a college basketball fan as I…
Julian Gant is a television and film actor who is widely recognized for his performance as Carter on the series Call Me Kat. He has also starred on Oddballs and the 2019 series Good Girls. Gant will be joining Billy and Frank on the April 5th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic Julian, born in Detroit, made his professional acting debut on The Suite Life of Hudson & James in 2003. Recently, he guest-starred on a 2020…
Artis Gilmore, one of the greatest centers in the history of professional basketball, will join Billy and Frank on the March 29th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Inducted into the Basketball Hall of Fame in 2011, Gilmore played for the Chicago Bulls, San Antonio Spurs, and Boston Celtics in the NBA, and the Kentucky Colonels of the former ABA. Artis was, arguably, the greatest player in the history of the ABA.…
With Saint Patrick’s Day behind us, I’m reminded of all the great Irish actors, singers, inventors, scientists, and politicians. But I’d rather take this opportunity to mention my favorite Irish quipster, playwright, and author. Oscar Fingal O’Fflahertie Wills Wilde was an Irish poet and playwright. After writing in different forms throughout the 1880s, he became one of London’s most popular playwrights in the early 1890s. You may know his popular name…. Oscar Wilde. He lived…
Editor’s Note: A respite from sports talk with a lighthearted, personal piece, as we welcome in Spring. When you live by the water in New England, spring can’t come fast enough. Don’t get me wrong, I love my little beach house. It’s on a decent size lot with about 150’ of beachfront property overlooking beautiful Buzzard’s Bay. I’ve owned it for over 40-years. As an old guy who lives alone, my little piece of heaven…
Actor and Author, Ryan Cassidy, will join Billy and Frank on the March 22nd episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Ryan recently authored the book, “James Cagney Was My Baby Sitter.” Ryan is the youngest of the famous Cassidy brothers and the son of Academy Award-Winner Shirley Jones for Elmer Gantry, plus the hit, The Music Man. Ryan embarked on an acting career after graduating from Beverly Hills High School. During this…
If you merge the league stats of the NBA and ABA, which the NBA is considering for the record books, Julius Winfield Erving Jr. would easily rank in the Top 5 greatest players in pro basketball history. After all, in his five ABA seasons, Erving won three scoring titles. He also won three Most Valuable Player awards and two championships. During his 11-year NBA career, Erving was an All-Star each season, the MVP in 1981,…
JC Currais, a Cuban American comedian and actor, will be joining Billy and Frank on the March 15th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. JC grew up in Miami and first started stand-up comedy while enrolled at the University of Florida. Currais’ stage presence is larger-than-life, and his performance style is high-energy. He has been on Conan and Comedy Central on TBS, and was named one of TBS’s Top Comics to…
You’ve got to love March. Spring is less than three weeks away…and MLB Spring Training has begun. As a die-hard baseball fan and one who loved to play the game, March couldn’t come fast enough for me, especially during my youth. And now, with a few years under my belt, I look forward to having something to watch every day. Hence, the reason baseball is America’s pastime – a way in which to pass time.…
Man One, Alex Poli, developed his love for art developing his skills as a graffiti artist on the streets of Los Angeles. Alex honed his talents as a fine artist and understanding of art history at Loyola Marymount University where he earned his Bachelor’s Degree in Fine Arts. Alex joins Billy and Frank on the March 8th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Man One’s art is comprised of his trademark bold,…
With the Super Bowl behind us, the game segued me to memories of my old pal, Sid. The first time he saw me he barked, “Get out. You get the hell out.” It was the late 1970’s and Sidney Brooks was throwing me out of the San Diego Chargers locker room. I deserved it, but one must admit that it was a hell of a way to strike up a lasting friendship. Sid was the San…
Former MLB Umpire Cowboy Joe West is back with the guys on March 1, as they discuss amongst other things: behind the scenes stories about baseball managers and players, what goes on in the bullpen, the art of rubbing up baseballs, and the vison of Walter O’Malley’s moving the Dodgers west in 1958. Other topics will include: the future of the Big 10, Huey Lewis and the News, Sudden Sam McDowell, The Andy Griffith…
Roy Firestone is a seven-time Emmy Award Winning and seven-time cable ACE Award-winning host, interviewer, narrator, writer and producer. He will join Mick and Mook on the February 22nd episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Roy was the original host of ESPN’s legendary Up Close, Up Close Classic, and Up Close Primetime. As an actor, Roy was featured in the Academy Award-Winning film, Jerry Maguire, where he played himself in a scene…
It could be 1959 or 60. Possibly, 1961. They could be 17, 18 years old, still wearing leather. It could be the beginning of Hamburg, when they performed long, exhausting sets in sleazy strip bars. Still, this is one of the earliest photos of Paul and John singing and writing a song, just the way you see it. See, in the early years, Paul and John, with left and right-handed guitars, made it easy for…
Bruce Ferber is a novelist and an Emmy Award-sinning writer. He joins Mick and Mook on the February 15 episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic. Ferber’s first job in TV was writing for Bosom Buddies starring Tom Hanks and the late Peter Scolari. Bruce recalls it being “a magical introduction to the business.” Other Ferber show credits include Growing Pains, Duet, Coach, Home Improvement and Sabrina the Teenage Witch, among others. Ferber’s…
Another Super Bowl is upon us. It’s hard to believe that this is SB LVII (#57)! However, for those of you old enough to remember, this is actually Super Bowl #55. The first two games were called the AFL-NFL Championship Game, which commenced in 1967. The name ‘Super Bowl’ was initiated in 1969, and called Super Bowl III, thus retro-activating the first two games into the new name. In addition, the AFL-NFL merger didn’t take…
Jim Breech, a former placekicker in the National Football League, will be joining Mick and Mook on the February 8th episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic.. Jim played for the Oakland Raiders in 1979 and Cincinnati Bengals from 1980-1992. His 1,151 points with the Bengals is a franchise record. Breech also played in Super Bowls XVI and XXIII, and was perfect in both games – not missing a field goal or extra…
(ED NOTE: In light of recent happenings regarding Alec Baldwin, this blog by Joshua Meltzer, who has worked with Frank (The Mook), has been a leader in the Union, and is the Property Masters Guild’s first President, is particularly relevant today.) For many reasons, I have stayed quiet on social media regarding the Rust tragedy. But now that charges have been filed and they are starting production again, a new narrative is being told. This…
Rick Bronson is an award-winning Comedian, Magician, TV Host, Writer, Producer, Musician and Taxidermist. He also owns and operates some of North America’s top comedy clubs, including The House of Comedy. Rick’s one-man show has earned him 8 COCA Comedian of the Year awards. He won an AMPIA award for Best TV Host for his work on the award-winning travel series, ‘The Tourist’. His one-hour special for The Comedy Network and CTV was the highest…
With January ending, I thought it would be apropos to reminisce about two American icons, both born in the month of January…Elvis Presley, the King of Rock ‘n Roll (born 1/8/35), and Civil Rights Leader, Dr. Martin Luther King (born 1/15/29). You might be surprised to learn of their relationship and that one of Elvis’ great songs and performances was dedicated to MLK. As the years fly by, I’m increasingly appreciative to have grown up…
Did Tom Brady just throw his last pass? Only he will tell us…and only he should. 10 Super Bowl performances. 7 wins. 5 Super Bowl MVPs. 3 League MVPs. 15 Pro Bowls. Record for most regular season starts and wins. Most passes. Most completions. Most TD’s. Oldest player to ever win MVP (40 years old). He’s the only player to beat all 32 NFL teams. He’s the best…ever. Nothing to prove. Nothing to come back…