I thought it was me. As the years fly by, I catch myself being more critical of things…be it politics, media, sports, or just life in general. I assumed it was just me becoming a grumpy old guy…but wait… One morning while listening to CBS Sports Radio, I heard a ‘talking head’ state exactly what I’ve been thinking and doing for a few years. He couldn’t take the buffoonery and arrogant comments of sports analysts…
When they asked Steve Martin what it takes to break through in the entertainment business, he said it’s not about agents, contacts, or luck…it’s about, as he put it, “being SO good at what you do, that they can’t ignore you.” With that in mind, I give you the story of Stefani Germanotta. For years, this classically trained pianist and singer played in dumps, strip bars, and sleazy clubs. As a young kid…she idolized Judy…
With September upon us and the MLB regular season winding down, I thought I’d give MLB its due for the success of their new rules in 2023. Here’s a look at the four major rule changes that made a significant difference in today’s game. Larger Bases: While I didn’t see the need for wider bases, I was very much in favor of changing the thickness of the bags. I never understood why the bases were…
Willie Nelson is now 90 years-old and still touring. He’s had the most remarkable life. For nearly 70 years in show business, Willie has written great songs and sung them well. He has entertained millions of people and has sold equally as many records. In addition, he’s been an activist and an outspoken figure for Farm Aid and numerous other charities. You would think with his tour schedule, which could have hundreds of…
August 9, 2023 It was August 1978. Forty-five years ago. Yikes! The first professional athlete that I was fortunate to interview was Red Sox second baseman Jerry Remy. We talked while leaning against the infield tarp located down the right field line at Fenway Park. I remember it like it was yesterday. Prior to the interview, I was thrilled to meet multiple players during batting practice…and for simply being on the field itself. Hell, I…
Steve was a lonely kid. He was ridiculed, bullied, and mocked, mostly because he was Jewish. He had few close friends, but he found relief from the sadness when he became obsessed with the movies. It helped him escape the pain of his parents’ divorce – and the wonder of making films was an escape to him, as it was for many lonely, hurting kids. And so, Steve made little movies using a Bell and…
Beginning next weekend and for the following three weekends, I will be one of the lead voices with recollections, stories, and interviews in a fascinating series about, easily, the most fascinating man who ever strode a basketball court. It’s called “Goliath”, and I am heavily featured in the 3-part documentary that tells the story of the most compelling athlete in basketball history…and yes, that includes Michael Jordan. What makes this series so groundbreaking, and I…
I’ve written a little in the past about my historic hometown of Fairhaven, Massachusetts. Located on Massachusetts’ south coast on picturesque Buzzards Bay, it’s about halfway between Providence, Rhode Island and Cape Cod. It was the site of the first naval battle in the Revolutionary War, which was fought off the beachfront of Fort Phoenix – the guardian of the Fairhaven-New Beford Harbor and the largest fishing fleet in America at the time – and…
When Thomas Wolfe wrote You Can’t Go Home Again in 1940, the classic novel proposed that nostalgia causes one to view the past in an overly positive light. Going home is never as good as one remembers. The Writers Guild strike in Los Angeles inadvertently gave me the opportunity to test Wolfe’s theory. l flew in from California to attend a loosely organized reunion of my childhood friends. We grew up playing baseball on the sandlots and…
It happened nearly 58 years ago. One of the most significant meetings between the greatest forces in pop music history – meeting for one historic night . The date was August 27th, 1965, and the Beatles were on “fumes”. That is, they were dead tired, exhausted really. They had been touring almost non-stop, done hundreds of interviews, filmed two full length movies, and were asked to turn out three new albums a year. It was…
Step aside soccer, there’s a new king in town. And, no, I don’t mean King Charles III. For years, soccer players were considered the biggest floppers in sports…and rightfully so. It was one of the few reasons why I, along with many other Americans, couldn’t embrace the sport. Players flopping all over the soccer field, known as the ‘pitch,’ were difficult to watch. And this comes from one of Portuguese decent – with all my…
Jimmy Fallon’s late-night audience is now about 2 million. When he began his show, it was an audience of 11 million. But he’s not alone. All late-night talk show’s audiences are down considerably and there are many reasons. Too many shows, too many clips of its best moments can be seen online….streaming…and frankly, boredom. Look, I’m a political person and I loved great political humor when it was beginning. But every night, every SINGLE night…
Streaming has been one of the biggest changes to how we consume media in my lifetime. I was born during the era of VHS tapes, I grew up at the dawn of DVDs, and I became a disgusting teenage gremlin right around the dawn of YouTube. The thing about all of these consumption methods is that you weren’t usually watching any new traditional media. You could watch Fast and Furious: Tokyo Drift as many times…
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…
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…
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…
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,…
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.…
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…
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…
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…
(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…
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…
As I watched the recent horrific happening on Monday Night Football regarding Bills’ player Damar Hamlin, I was touched by the two emotions that evolved during that life-or-death situation. They were emotions that I also experienced while watching…both heartbreaking and heartwarming moments. The way Damar went down and the immediate reaction of the players, one knew this was a serious issue. It was heartbreaking to watch. However, as time elapsed, it also became heartwarming watching…
I’m a very sentimental person. Always have been. Always will be. New Year’s Eve is often a wistful time, not a raucous time for me. I can’t wait for a better year next year, but aside from the song “Auld Lang Syne”, which is a Scots-language poem written by Robert Burns in 1788 and set to the tune of a traditional folk song, we have very few, if any, memorable New Year’s Eve songs. But…
Born and raised just south of Boston, I’ve been fortunate to see three of the greatest pro sports dynasties ever in person – the Boston Celtics, New York Yankees, and New England Patriots. From Bill Russell’s Celtics of the 50s-60s and Larry Bird’s Cs of the 80’s…to the Mickey Mantle led Yankees of the 50’s and early 60’s and Jeter’s Yanks of the 90s, I was blessed to see all those great teams in person.…
The best Christmas song and vocal was recorded more than 50 years ago and its back story is like a Hallmark Channel movie. And it really happened. Frank Pooler was the choir director at Cal St. Long Beach. In 1946, just after the war, he was stationed in Germany and during the holiday season, he missed his fiancé. So, Frank wrote a poem longhand called “Merry Christmas, Darling”. It had NO melody. Frank and his…
A collection of random thoughts, as I embark on my 73rd holiday season…. I am forever thankful for all the blessings I have shared, and for those I look forward to in the future. To family and old friends who have blessed my life and have gone to a better place… and to those who continue to make my life better like my wife Karen, daughter Erin, Son-in-Law Charlie, and my two granddaughters Frankie &…
Sports has played a significant role in my life…from my days as a young boy when I played ball daily…to today, after many years of working in the world of sports. I tell you this to magnify why I’m so concerned with my state of mind when it comes to watching sports on television these days. It’s simply not holding my attention as it has my entire life. These days, I’m constantly flipping the channel…
Why I love both versions of When She Was My Girl for different reasons. Any writer who is fortunate enough to have his song covered by two such great artists is miraculously fortunate. I count my blessings daily. Larry Gottlieb and I wrote the song in the Motown tradition of sad lyrics in an up-tempo major key. David Wolfert produced it brilliantly in its first iteration, and The Four Tops sold it with a most…
I know many are going through some challenging financial times these days. Hell, making a trip to the supermarket is no picnic for me either. In the past two years my grocery bill has increased drastically. And as a diabetic who lives alone, believe me, I purchase the same boring food every week, so it’s not like I’m buying more. Thanks Joe! But that aside, remember it’s not the food on the table that makes…
He doesn’t know. He couldn’t know how much he means to me. He is there every day. There by my side in stressful times. There by my side in happy times. He is mostly happy all the time. My dog, Kobe, has been my best pal since the day I rescued him. I had been distraught like many of you after we lost Kobe Bryant…then Covid hit and isolated me (like you, too) … and…
With Veteran’s Day approaching, many emotions run through my head and heart. As a grateful Baby Boomer, I’ve witnessed, firsthand, the trials and tribulations of being a veteran, specifically war veterans of World War II and Vietnam. Those two wars played a significant role in my life. For those who read my blog, you know that my dad was a WWII Veteran who paid a heavy price serving his country. As a paratrooper during the…
Forty years ago, almost to the day, I was at The Power Station co-producing and co-writing with Rachel Sweet and Larry Gottlieb for Rachel’s album for Columbia records. Around nine o’clock, Rachel wanted to take a fifteen-minute break. She said she needed to freshen up for a visitor. When she was doing that, I went to the lounge and sat down on a banquette. The Honeymooners was on, and I began watching. About five minutes…
Harry Caray, the legendary baseball announcer was broadcasting an NBA exhibition game once in Memphis. (Harry did broadcast basketball for the St. Louis Hawks). Harry was taking a nap when the phone rang. “Hello”, said Harry. “Hello Harry, this is Elvis Presley, and I’m a big fan of the Hawks”. Before he could finish the sentence…Harry hung up on the caller. Some idiot is pranking me, he thought. The phone rings again. “Harry, it’s really…
As the 2022 MLB Playoffs approached, I wondered if I’d have enough interest to watch all the games. You see, my Red Sox sucked this season and were nowhere to be found in the brackets. An ALCS finalist in 2021, they finished dead last in the AL East this year. Embarrassing! So, with no rooting interest, could the playoffs hold my attention? As I looked at the brackets, there was really no one to specifically…
John Lennon would have been 82 years-old on October 9th had some psycho not shot him six times in the back on December 8, 1980…on my birthday. 82 years old! We can’t even figure out legislation to keep people who have mental problems from owning weapons…but that’s another post. 82 years old! I think about all the music he could have made and was busy making. I think he would’ve written and performed with Paul…
Not long ago I was doing the sports segment on a LA morning TV show. I made a reference to Howard Cosell. The show’s co-anchor had no idea who that was. THAT’S A CO-NEWS ANCHOR!!! Hey, Howard died way back in 1995. The point I wanted to make isn’t to embarrass anyone, but to point out that not just news people, but all kinds of people today (mostly young people) have very little cultural knowledge…
For those of you who read my blog, you know that I, fortunately, come from a very close and loving family. My Mom and Dad grew up in the same neighborhood, married at a young age (when my dad returned home from WWII), owned businesses in town, and became very well-known and respected in our community. Over the years, many friends of my brother and I considered our parents their second parents. Often, friends would…
It is damn near impossible now to get quality time with athletes as a journalist, the enemy banished outside upon the arrival of Covid—never again to be afforded intimate access. I knew Kobe Bryant, adored him, disliked him, laughed, and yelled and all in the same interview. He was human, and I came to understand that. Even Kevin Brown was human, although I could argue the alternative. I’m not sure I could function today in…
Sadly, there is one guarantee in life…death. Unfortunately, as we grow older, that occurrence comes far too frequently. That is the sad truth about aging – we lose loved-ones, friends, and acquaintances on a regular basis. And while we accept this fact, it does not make it any easier when it occurs. With the 2022 football season upon us, I think of one of its great players, Gino Cappelletti, who we lost this year. Gino,…
“They knew what they were signing up for.” “Ignore the infirmed, bury the dead, and just move on” seems to be the callous chorus of all too many insensible lawmakers who have never left the comfort of their own office nor lifted anything heavier than a pen. Too many of the so-called “powers that be” are only too happy to prattle these tired cliches to the families of first responders and war veterans. As…
It’s been a tough few years for movie theatres. First, they were completely out. Then they were kinda out? But also, it was like, you’re spaced out, wearing masks, being quiet…so they were back in. Then they were totally back…but everything was releasing on streaming at the same time so they were out again? In reality, though, no matter how big your TV is, no matter how loud your sound system is, no matter how…
Make no mistake, I’m a firm believer of capitalism. God bless you for making as much money as you can, if it’s done legally – and not like a politician (but that’s a blog for another time). However, over the years, I’ve watched professional sports team-owners, unions, and athletes get so consumed with money that it has taken over the dialog in sports. Fans now talk more about how much money an athlete makes rather…
Podcast Magazine has honored Billy O’Connor, “the Mick” of A Mick A Mook and A Mic, as one of the Top 40 over 40 Podcasters in America. The Bronx native was honored for his eclectic lifestyle, freewheeling jargon, and for his phoenix-like transformation later in life. Billy was a Vietnam Vet, a 20-year member of the FDNY, and was present front and center for the “big dig” after 9/11. The Irish-born O’Connor has outpaced alcoholism,…
When I was a 5-year old child, growing up on Long Island, playing stick ball on the street with the unrestrained joy of, well, a 5-year old, I started to hear about the Dodgers. Then I heard the Dodgers on a big radio in my mom’s very small kitchen. The sound of the crowd. The crack of the bat. And the voice. The over-arching voice of 25-year old Vin Scully. I was the RCA Victor…
Bill Russell was the greatest basketball player of my youth and, by far, the greatest sports ‘Champion’ of my lifetime. Boston Celtics great Bill Russell passed away this week. He was 88 years-old. Russell was drafted in 1956 – and during his 13-year playing career in the NBA, he won 11 Championships, including 8-in-a-row! However, his NBA rings weren’t his only championships, as he also won 2 NCAA Championships for the San Francisco Dons, a…
I just saw the feature film, ELVIS, which featured a career defining performance by Austin Butler as the King. The bio unexpectedly brought back memories of Dr. George Nichopoulos. Dr Nick served in the Army Medical Core in Germany before graduating from Vanderbilt Medical school and becoming Elvis personal doctor in 1970. The “feel-good” doctor was supplying drugs to the King of rock and roll throughout the 70’s, which contributed to Elvis’ passing on August 16,…
In a sports sense, I hate the LA Lakers. I’ve been a Boston Celtics fan since the days of Bill Russell, so…enough said. However, while I dislike the organization, that doesn’t mean I haven’t respected them over the years. The Celtics-Lakers rivalry is one of the best in all of sports. Plus, I actually liked Jerry West and Elgin Baylor. Both were great players and classy men. And while I was never a fan of…
There’s so much darkness in the news. Murder. Frightening truths about a corrupt and vindictive former president. Hard economic times. A bloody war in Ukraine. Sadness seems to be everywhere. It’s actually hard for me to watch the news and stay informed. I’d like this morning instead to remember a good and decent man who left us 41 years ago this week in a tragic car wreck on the Long Island Expressway. His name was…
I love summer…well, despite the oppressive heat and my aversion to it. But, besides that, I love summer. It’s just so magical, so full of possibilities. Those feelings are probably tied to childhood memories of summer vacations spent swimming, frolicking, and just generally getting into mischief…and if there’s one sporting event that really, truly, screams “summer” it’s an afternoon baseball game. A good old-fashioned day game encapsulates all the best parts of summer: not being in…
With the Fourth of July approaching, I look forward to celebrating the birth of the greatest country in the history of our planet. The Fourth of July—also known as Independence Day—has been a federal holiday in the United States since 1941, but the tradition of Independence Day celebrations goes back to the American Revolution. On July 2, 1776, the Continental Congress voted in favor of independence, and two days later delegates from the 13 colonies…
This is from memory, so the year will come to me later. My late partner Frank Shaw and I had written a Bill Cosby Special. We were taping it at NBC in Burbank. One of the guest stars was Burgess Meredith, glowing in his newfound fame as The Penguin on the Batman series. I didn’t care. To me Burgess Meredith was Ernie Pyle in The Story of G.I. Joe, George in Of Mice and Men,…
To be clear, I’m no longer a big golf fan. I haven’t followed golf intently since the days of Arnold Palmer and Jack Nicholas. I played a lot during my college years and a few years, thereafter…but that was many moons ago. So, with that said, don’t expect this blog to provide much insight on golf or the new LIV Golf Series. But, rather, it will bring your attention to the ongoing hypocrisy of many…
Going home is almost always wonderful, except when it’s to grieve a loss of a loved one. Recently, I went back to my home town, Miami Beach, for my High School reunion, and it was a very joyous time, but there was some, brief, grieving. At my age, many of the people I knew and loved start to pass, and the list of those who left us gets longer with time. We remembered them fondly…
I spent one terrific Memorial Day, poolside, surrounded by my family, eating bbq and watching my two granddaughters play as if they didn’t have a care in the world because they didn’t. So young. So innocent. So precious. In Uvalde, Texas, however, 21 families and an entire community suffered the realities of life as we have come to know it. Nineteen precious children and two brave teachers’ lives were snuffed out in yet another senseless…
As the son of a World War II veteran who is extremely proud to showcase Dad’s Purple Heart on my fireplace mantle, I remind everyone that Memorial Day is a very special day for Americans. It’s a day we honor those who died while serving in the U.S. military in our nation’s wars. As my Dad would always remind me, Veterans Day is for ALL who served, but Memorial Day is to honor those who…
Since the dawn of the internet we, as a civilization, have had basically the entirety of human knowledge and creation at our fingertips. From the greatest works of literature to the most complex mathematical equations (explained as simply as possible for Dumb Brains like me). Almost every piece of recorded music in history can be listened to in a few seconds! It’s pretty freaking cool…and yet most of us end up watching/listening/reading the same comfortable…
Can you imagine if this essay was about what it’s like to be incredibly good looking? As the self-described “most generic looking white man possible,” I think it would be extremely funny to wax poetic on how difficult life is when you’re ‘really really really’ ridiculously good looking. But, that’s clearly not what I’m here to blather on about. I’m here to talk to you as someone who is constantly overheating, someone who is usually dappled…
Wearing jeans, a white scarf, and borrowed sandals, a 14-year-old American girl became the most famous unknown person in the world overnight. John Filo, student photographer at Kent State, took a photo of runaway, Mary Ann Vecchio, in 1969 that was plastered on the front page of every newspaper in the country and firmly into the annals of history. On May 4, Kent State University students protested over Richard Nixon’s decision to invade Cambodia. On her…
Yes, I’m a Boston Celtics fan. However, I guarantee you, the majority of NBA fans will agree with my following sentiments, including some diehard New York fans. Besides, most New Yorkers are Knicks’ fans and still consider the Nets as part of New Jersey. But, then again, their two New York NFL teams play in New Jersey, so…. For those who don’t follow the National Basketball Association, the Celtics just swept the Brooklyn Nets in…
With legendary Baseball Hall of Famer Rod Carew the guest on the ‘A Mick A Mook and A Mic’ podcast this week, I thought it would be apropos to write about baseball. And while I had intended to write something positive about the game, sadly, LA Dodgers’ manager Dave Roberts stepped in and that plan went awry. However, allow me to first acknowledge the great Rod Carew. I met Rod via the ‘Mook’ (Frank Pace)…
As soon as someone pointed out I should write a post about doing taxes, my mind splintered into a thousand pieces and began imagining a thousand different essays about it. From the Jerry Seinfeld, “what’s the deal with taxes?” type, to the anarcho-capitalist word vomit about how the government is simply a coercive monopoly stealing the sweat off of the collective brows of workers…but then, of course, I settled back into my own little corner…
Watching the recent NCAA Final Four, plus knowing UCLA basketball great, John Vallely, would be a guest soon on the ‘A Mick A Mook and A Mic’ podcast, ignited many fond basketball memories. It was in March 1970 when my favorite NCAA basketball memories occurred. Over 50-years ago…yikes! I was a sophomore in college. God, just a baby! I was attending Jacksonville University (JU) in Florida – and finally getting over being homesick. Living south…
Humans love to say that they’re spontaneous, that they’re adventurous, that they’re impulsive (but in a fun “let’s not make dinner tonight, let’s go out” way, not an “I just put $60k on the Knicks to cover” way). But, guess what… that’s bullshit! Humans love predictability. Humans love discernable patterns. Humans love cause and effect that can be easily understood. All of this is why humans, now (and Will in particular) and throughout history (I…
Let me be clear, if you’re an adult and not hurting children or a member of my family, I couldn’t care less what you wear or who you bed. An adult in America is free to make their own life choices, as long as it’s within the law of the land or the rules of the game. If you’re not an adult, then those choices and decisions belong to your parents….not teachers, politicians, or corporate…
Yes, you read the headline correctly. A plane crash that I experienced ended up saving my life! As I’ve mentioned a few times in my blogs, I started working in the Sporting Goods Industry in the early 1980s. My first job in the industry was with Ektelon, a leading racquetball company based in San Diego, CA. I began with the company serving as its Eastern Sales Manager. Personally, I was based south of Boston and…
This is difficult to admit, but sports doesn’t mean quite as much to me as it once did. Age certainly has something to do with it, but there are many more negative happenings in professional sports that has added to it being a turn off. As mentioned in previous blogs, much of my life has been devoted to sports. Beginning with youth sports through high school, college and adult travel softball, I played actively for…
On January 6, 2021, a violent mob of insurrectionists attacked the US capitol. It was a harrowing, disgusting few hours, but by that evening it was just that, a few hours. The mob was quelled, the capitol secured, and by the next week when it was time to write another essay, so much had been written about it that I decided to write about going on dumb little jogs for my dumb mental health. Since…
With this week’s episode of A Mick A Mook and A Mic featuring the travel adventures of Billy and Frank (Mick and Mook), I thought I’d share some of my travel escapades, most of which were business-related. However, there were also many personal trips that I will always cherish. Over the years, I have traveled to 47 states, Puerto Rico, and 6 countries. The only states I have not experienced are Alaska, Montana and South…
With songwriter J.T. Harding the special guest this week on the podcast, A Mick A Mook and A Mic, I couldn’t help but think about bygone times. So bear with me, as I take a hiatus from my sports blog and reminisce. The episode with J.T. is one in which I’ve looked forward to ever since I learned he would be a guest of Mick and Mook. However, I fear it may also be an…
I’m an only child. That should be obvious. I’ve created a blog spanning a year-plus where all I do is write about things I think (classic “only child center of the universe” stuff right there). As a child, I didn’t have to share my toys or my parent’s attention…that part was pretty rad. I also spent a lot of time alone and when something would break or go missing, I had no siblings to blame…
Beginning with Super Bowl XXXVI, played on February 3, 2002, Tom Brady (The GOAT) has played in ten! Yes, that’s right…10! It’s hard to believe that 50% of all Super Bowls played since that memorable upset of ‘The Greatest Show on Turf’ (St. Louis Rams), have showcased Tom Brady. For the past twenty years, the ‘Brady Bowl’ became almost an annual event. So, it’s no surprise as to why the Patriots and Brady were so…
Congratulations to Red Sox slugger David Ortiz, aka ‘Big Papi’. Ortiz was the sole player voted into the National Baseball Hall of Fame this year, on his first ballot, by the Baseball Writers’ Association of America (BBWAA). The 2022 Induction Ceremony will take place Sunday, July 24, on the grounds of the Clark Sports Center in Cooperstown, New York. Ortiz, one of the greatest clutch hitters in MLB history, will join Golden Days Era Committee…
(The following is an excerpt from the book, IF THESE LIPS COULD TALK, by Frank Pace with Billy O’Connor) An internet meme of Howard Cosell with his arms around Bruce Jenner and O.J. Simpson reads, “Folks, I’ve just looked 50 years into the future. You’re not gonna believe what I have to tell you.” America’s fascination with celebrities has reached epic heights. Hell, we elected two reality-TV stars President. Running for President is one talent,…
For those who read this blog regularly, you know my (once) love of the National Basketball Association is waning. Between the game being ruined by the constant chucking of 3-pointers, inconsistent officiating and hypocritical players who care more about the almighty dollar than democracy (see LeBron), I’m now appalled by the words spoken by Golden State Warriors Co-Owner, Chamath Palihapitiya. The billionaire venture capitalist boldly stated, “Nobody cares about the Uyghurs”. This statement was regarding…
It’s time for some good, old-fashioned homerism. Growing up just south of Boston, I’m a full-fledged Boston sports fan. And why not? It’s the greatest sports town in America, especially since the turn of the century. Since 2000, Boston has won (by far) the most championships in the four major professional sports leagues than any other city, with 12 banners having been raised. In total, Boston has won 41 championships (NBA, MLB, NFL-Super Bowl, and…
Time is a funny thing. One day you’re running around your high school, drinking as many Dr. Peppers in one day as you can and eating Hot Cheetos for every meal with little to no consequences. The next day you’re standing in the cereal aisle at the grocery store trying to figure out which type of bran has the most fiber for the lowest price. Adults really weren’t joking when they said, life comes at…
Another year is coming to an end. Sadly, the older I get, the faster the years seem to fly by. Funny…when young, the years didn’t go by fast enough. I always looked forward to getting older. First came the time when I couldn’t wait to be a teenager. Then, after turning 13, I was dying to get into high school. Those high school years are the days that I still cherish. As for my college…
As many people scramble this week in preparation for Christmas, it should not be forgotten as to what the true meaning is of this special day. And, please, NEVER be ashamed of wishing fellow Christians a Merry Christmas. It’s a time of joy for us, as we celebrate the birth of our savior and open our hearts to all. As the great English writer and social critic, Charles Dickens, wrote, “I will honor Christmas in…
I’ve been watching pro basketball for more decades than I want to admit. To give you a hint, my favorite players as a young boy were Bill Russell and John Havlicek. Some of my fondest memories growing up were of my days on a basketball court. At Christmas, I used to tell my Dad that if I was only to get one gift, please have it be a new basketball. I’ve always said that one…
Oh, where to begin? There are so many important issues Major League Baseball needs to address, I could write a book. And what better time for them to fix the game than in the coming months – when negotiations reopen between owners and the MLB Player’s Association. However, sadly, I don’t believe the current ‘lockout’ will help push either side to deal with many of the specific game needs, as much as it will…
My eyes flutter open. The room has an odd orange tint to it. I’m covered in a thin sheen of sweat and my body feels like it weighs a metric ton. My brain tries to put thoughts together, but it’s like watching a toddler trying to catch bubbles: futile, hilarious, and a bit sad. Every time I try to rouse my body into motion, fatigue smothers me like a weighted blanket. I know if I…
Thanksgiving…my favorite holiday. I also love the true meaning of Christmas, but it has become far too commercialized. Is there anything better than gathering with family and being thankful for our life together? There’s a saying that hits home every time I hear it…”Traditions are stories that families write together…keep writing our tradition.” With the loss of my parents a number of years ago, our family traditions will continue to be written by my nephew,…
Never in my life have I been in super good shape. I’ve always been one of those guys who goes to the gym just often enough to keep the status quo. I’d usually run or ride the bike for a while, but I always half-assed it for one simple reason: cardio is the worst. It’s so boring. It takes so long. And I get so unbelievably sweaty (seriously, I look like the pilot from Airplane when I…
When I was nineteen, I was stationed in a remote Laotian village bordering the Mekong River. I was an Irish kid from the Bronx, nearly 14,000 miles from home. It had been a twenty-two-hour plane ride to get, “in country” and another four excruciating hours strapped to a cloth harness attached to the perimeter of a cargo plane to arrive in Nakhon Phenom, a town Bob Hope called, “the armpit of the world.” My first day…
Here’s a tip right off the top for sports analysts, especially the pre and post-game commentators….leave comedy to the professionals. October has always been utopia for sports fanatics. The month showcases Major League Baseball Playoffs and World Series, the National Football League is well underway, and the NBA and NHL kick-off their seasons. It’s the preeminent sports month that likely bestowed upon men the ominous title of ‘couch potatoes.’ With all the major sports showcased…
I met Peter in the days of our golden youth, on the playing fields of the Sepulveda Basin where we were teammates on the ‘Ten Guys From Italy’ softball team. I was still an occasionally working actor with a number of failed pilots and series behind me and one spec script written in my peripatetic journey to a career, and Peter was ridiculously successful. On the diamond, Peter was just a sweetheart of a guy…
I turned 30 a couple of weeks ago and it’s left me with a strange mix of emotions: existential dread, pining for the days when I was “young”, and a weird feeling of calm. It’s always been this number of frightening size, this self-imposed deadline constantly looming in the future, but like almost everything else in life that one dreads, it’s so much worse in your mind than it is in reality! It goes without…
Make no mistake, baseball remains America’s pastime. While the National Football League may be America’s favorite sport to watch, we ‘pass time’ (over 8-months of the year, including Spring Training) watching baseball. And while some may think baseball is boring, which it can be at times during a long, 162-game regular season, try watching playoff baseball. It’s an entirely different game and very exciting. Have you been watching the 2021 MLB Playoffs? At the time…
Recently I had the absolute pleasure of taking a trip to Madison Wisconsin to visit my 98 (count it NINETY-EIGHT) year old grandmother, Ruthie. Because of the pandemic, everyone’s busy lives, and the fact that we live about 2,000 miles apart, this was the first time I’d seen my Grandma in person in three years. Obviously, it’s always special to get to spend time with a grandparent but getting to talk to Ruthie as she…
After graduating from college and prior to entering the Sports Industry, my life was filled with some precarious characters – none of whom my father, a police officer, would have approved. However, it was a time that surely provided me with interesting stories…and a better appreciation for being alive. It all began with my first job, post-college. I became a sales representative for a beer and wine distributor. The main beer sold was Narragansett. ‘Narry’…
I have strange relationships with lots of things. We were born before the internet was widespread enough to have the all-consuming impact it had on Gen Z, but it certainly shaped us. Music went from tapes to CDs to mp3s to streaming at light speed (and at some point, vinyl came back?), never settling in on one format for too long during our lives. The same goes for phones and video games and government surveillance!…
“Don’t tell me what you remember,” I said. I leaned in and looked Twiggy squarely in the eyes. “I want you to tell me what you absolutely cannot forget.” I was asking my brother firefighter that question because I was doing research for a book that has since been published called Combustible. Although the Twin Towers had collapsed more than a decade earlier, Twiggy’s head immediately collapsed into the palms of his hands, voice quivering,…
Windows on the World Restaurant, World Trade Center For those who follow this blog, you know that I occasionally depart from sports. This is one of those occasions. Like many, I vividly remember where I was when I heard of the first plane crashing into the World Trade Center on September 11, 2001. Upon hearing, I quickly got in front of my television and watched the heartbreaking events unfold in real time. When the second…
Summary: As the world has been turned into disarray during the COVID-19 pandemic, the Ultimate Fighting Championship took the lead in returning to action and provided a reprieve from the doldrums, with stars such as Israel Adesanya, Jorge Masvidal, Amanda Nunes, Dustin Poirier, Kamaru Usman and Conor McGregor leading the way. Nearly 28 years ago, UFC 1 “The Beginning” took place. Roughly 16 years ago, The Ultimate Fighter aired its first season and mixed martial…
I’m a pretty organized guy. I always know where my phone is. I never lose my keys. My glasses go from on my face, to a designated spot in the bathroom when I put on my contacts, back to my face, and then to their designated spot on my bedside table every day. I know it seems like a boring way to live, but I find a certain level of comfort in knowing exactly where…
I’ve been blessed to have lived a very interesting life. My sports career has enabled me to travel extensively over the years. It has taken me to 46 states and multiple countries. In the 1980s alone, I became a million-mile flyer on American Airlines. And while flying eventually became a chore, the destinations and people that I met made it all worthwhile. One of the benefits of travel, plus having good friends in Hollywood and…
You don’t have the right to shove a ventilator tube down my throat. I’m not talking to healthcare professionals or doctors here. As a former rescue-worker myself, I know it’s their job to make every effort to save my life. I’m talking to the misinformed half of our populace who refuse to take vaccinations. People who prefer to make their way to their local congressman for brain surgery have no right to put me…
(Counterpoint to DA MICK BLOG – Is This Microphone Ever Turned On?) Most would view this as contrarian. But is it, though? The nuance of this statement by Oscar Wilde mustn’t be ignored. One aspect of this nuance is asking the question – Why is this popular, and should it be? Another question… Should we investigate? This is America. Oh, but we’re so busy. We’ve got Netflix to watch and so much chilling to do.…
Being an American is very strange. As I’m sure many of you know, it’s a nation filled with contradictions. From patriotism whenever the US Olympic athletes kick ass to shame when certain states refuse to vaccinate their population against a deadly pandemic that has killed millions of people (I’m not naming any names, I’m above that *cough**cough* Tennessee *cough**cough*). But, one of the contradictions that confuses me the most is the dichotomy between our “united…
In the song ‘My Way,’ sung by Frank Sinatra and written by Paul Anka, there’s a famous line which reads; Regrets, I’ve had a few, but then again, too few to mention. A very meaningful song and line, especially as one gets older. For those who say they have no regrets, I say hogwash. If you have no regrets, I question the fullness of your life. Did you not take any chances in your lifetime? …
Discussions about choice and freedom are as old as history itself. From modern philosophy and religion back to Calvinism, Aristotle, and Plato, all the big wigs have pondered these existential conundrums. Are we in charge of our own choices, do we have a say on the direction and course of our lives? Is there a God (or gods) that chart our paths? Are our fates predetermined so that we merely live our lives like trains…
Beneath sparkling brown eyes, and salt and pepper hair, he flashed a wry smile before pausing and uttering one deliberate sentence about a Sean O Casey play. “It reads good.” Author and movie star, Stephen Lang, had deliberately used bad grammar to make his point. The classically trained actor knew that my partner Frank Pace and I would get it. After all, we were writers of sorts too. Stephen was referring to Sean O Casey’s,…
My assistant said, “Carl Thomas is on the line.” Carl Thomas was the Vice President of Marketing for Speedo, the country’s leading swimwear manufacturer. Armen Keteyian and I were working as a two-man P.R. group for a small San Diego based marketing firm called The Phillips Organisation, Ltd. (That is the correct spelling). Speedo was our client. “Put Carl through,” I said. It was early 1982. Carl had just gotten off a plane from Kona, Hawaii. He…
Are you familiar with the term Genericide? Genericide is the term used when a brand legally loses its mark by reaching a point where the product name is no longer differentiated and is therefore synonymous with the generic product. For example: consumers say “Kleenex” when referring to facial tissue, regardless of the actual brand they’re using. In other words, brands can be destroyed by their own success – and Little League could be a Genericide…
By Will Peterman | July 4, 2021Hydration is obviously a large part of being a person. We’re like 60% water, which is crazy because I’m still not even 60% sure writing weekly essays is a good idea…anyways, I’m pretty damn good at drinking water. I carry a big ‘ole silver water bottle with me basically everywhere I go. I fill that guy up like three or four times per day. At this point, I get…
While watching the NBA Playoffs, thoughts brought me back to my most memorable night at a NBA game. It was November, 1977. It was a game at The ‘Fabulous’ Forum in Los Angeles. It was the Chicago Bulls versus the LA Lakers. It was a battle of 7-footers…Artis Gilmore versus Kareem Abdul-Jabbar. Allow me to set the stage… I had recently moved from a small town south of Boston to Marina Del Rey, California. I…
By Billy O’Connor, Retired NY City Firefighter and 9/11 First Responder. It happened in Florida. Of course, it did. It also happened in what might cynically be called history’s richest third-world country. Profit is always first and foremost in the USA. Don’t dwell on the dead. Never mind the rescue workers who will have to put their lives at risk. As the first responder’s efforts inevitably change from rescue to recovery, my heart breaks for…
It’s been a while, but I think the time is finally right: strap in because after a run of normal essays, I’m ready to drop another weird one. We live in a world dominated by capitalism and consumerism. Every time you buy a new product, it’s the best one they’ve ever made. It makes all previous versions obsolete! Without this new product, you’re nothing and nobody! But sometimes, there are products that theoretically last forever,…
With Father’s Day upon us, I’d like to take a break from sports and write about my Dad…a real life hero. Many children look to their fathers as their hero…and rightfully so. If you were lucky enough to have a Dad that gave you reason to think of him in that manner, be thankful. I hope you cherished him and continue to do so to this day, whether he’s still physically with you, or just…
My face lit up. Wow! Of all the gin joints in all the world? When she walked in, I was tending bar in a dollar beer joint on Wall Street, the one’s with a steam table for a quick lunch. Although clad in white shirt and tie, I was usually the kind of guy who showered after work, not before. A staunch union man, when I was reading to my young children, I started every…
Being an adult kind of sucks. I’m hardly the first person to posit this thought but it’s still true. Even the things that, as a kid, I looked forward to aren’t nearly as cool as I’d hoped they’d be: Driving a car? Sure, have fun in traffic on the way to work. Booze? Yeah beer is great, hangovers and beer guts though, not so much. A steady paycheck? AHAHAHAHAH! I’ll let you know when I…
Having a “thing” is great. It’s probably one of my favorite parts of being a sentient being. But what is a “thing”? Well it’s kind of like a hobby, but it can be much broader, much vaguer than just a hobby. It’s something that you’re thinking about during the middle of a work day. Something you’re excited to do, or watch, or just think about more over the weekend! One of the beautiful things about…
The tubercular character created in 1969s “Midnight Cowboy,” Ratzo Rizzo was as repulsive as he was unforgettable: a hacking, limping, confused miscreant struggling to survive amid a jungle of cement, conmen, and car horns. In 60-Truck, an FDNY firefighter named Jack Rizzi was well groomed, mannerly, and so honest that you could play craps with him over the phone. Because these two men were total opposites, the brothers Christened Jack Rizzi, “Ratzo Rizzi.” The…
Let me say right off the top…I hate ‘greatest’ lists – especially those offered by writers barely out of school. Kids ranking basketball greats who have never seen the likes of Bill Russell, Wilt Chamberlain, Oscar Robertson or Jerry West play should be automatically disqualified from a greatest ‘ever’ NBA list. Recently, I was reading a list by a young writer who is published in a reputable sports website. I won’t embarrass or promote him…
(Excerpted in part from the book, IF THESE LIPS COULD TALK) How did I become pals with Cowboy Joe West, the man who will set the major league record for most games umpired in baseball history (5,376) tonight (5/25) in Chicago? The man of whom someone once said, “This is a guy who will walk into a blast furnace with two gasoline buckets, he doesn’t give a damn.” Racquetball. That’s right, racquetball. You remember racquetball. It was…
The highlight on my career was an invitation to Don Rickles 70th birthday party. It was an incredibly star-studded event, even for Hollywood. The guests included Frank Sinatra, Robert DeNiro, Sharon Stone, Bob and Ginny Newhart, Milton Berle, Marty Scorsese and Red Buttons along with movie moguls Marvin Daly and Bob Daly. My wife and I were seated with comic Jack Carter ,his wife and noted cosmetics maven Tovah Borgnine (wife of Academy Award winner,…
A warning to the younger people who read this blog…when you reach a certain age, some things in life become intolerable, which includes watching insufferable sports professionals. Also, get ready for some old-man ‘back in my day’ comments. However, my life is all I have to compare happenings over the years – and trust me, there have been plenty of years to analyze. I promise, you’ll be there one day, too, if you’re not already.…
Make no mistake, baseball is America’s pastime. As the Baseball Hall of Fame & Museum often says, “Baseball is sewn into the fabric of America.” The word pastime has multiple meanings. To me, it’s a manner in which to pass time. Unlike the fast-paced Millennial and Gen-Z generations, former generations lived a slower, more in-the-moment lifestyle – and viewed baseball as a means of gathering with family and friends to enjoy watching the ‘boys of…
One afternoon, many years ago I was tending bar when an ominous looking man with a Boston Blackie style pencil thin moustache walked in and slid into a seat. He was barely at his stool when the Killer said, “Alcohol is the cause and solution of all problems.” “Killer Miller” was an exterminator, hence the benign rhyming nickname. As a former drunk, the sentence hit my ears like a powerful left…
Time flies. One year, I’m 19 years old and watching Artis Gilmore lead Jacksonville University to the NCAA finals, the next thing you know I look in the mirror to shave and see a 71–year old man. We really do have to make the most of every day. As trite as that saying may seem, nothing is promised. Two recent tragedies remind me of that adage. The death of the 19-year-old Kentucky guard Terrace Clarke…
An hour before the NCAA championship game, a diner in my community interrupted my burger, “Hey man, I watched your podcast. Good stuff.”“Thanks Tommy,” I said. “Much appreciated.”“So, you were a bookie?”“For seven years,” I said. “I even wrote a book about it.”“Wow. So, you know your stuff,” Tommy said. “Who do you like in tonight’s big game, Gonzaga or Baylor?”“Know my stuff?” I just laughed.Last football season on our podcast A Mick, A Mook,…
by Gil Vieira VSportsTalk As promoted in the tagline of the podcast, A Mick A Mook and A Mic, sports will be one of the frequent topics of discussion. Therefore, I thought it would be apropos to provide the website with my blog, vSportsTalk, to share sports insight and opinions – and to get the podcast’s fans blood boiling. With my old friend, the ‘Mook’, being a New York sports fan, and I residing…