Bear Down Sunday #6

The Chicago Bears are 3-2 after a Sunday night loss to the Atlanta Falcons. Today, the Bears face the Cincinnati Bengals, who stand at 4-2. Last I heard, my old friends Tom Skalski and Ed Mann would be attending this game (although not together).
Speaking of Tom, back in the old days, one of our mutual favorites was linebacker Bill Bergey of the Philadelphia Eagles. Bergey spent the first 5 years (out of 12) of his career with the Cincinnati Bengals. Tom probably blocks out the Bengals years, much like he would block out Franco Harris's time with the Seahawks.
Anyway, when I met Bergey at the Ultimate Collectors Show, I mentioned how Tom would have loved to meet him. Bergey laughed and thanked me (us) for remembering him, despite him not being a flashy star. I told him that we always loved the true tough guys like him and he laughed some more.
It was cool meeting Bergey and I am sure Tom would have loved to talk a bit of football with him as well.

Bill Bergey and me in Oaks, PA-October 2009.

Glückliches Neujahr

Happy New Year!
At Mt. Carmel High School, I took 4 years of German. It wasn't so much that I loved the language, but more that I liked the 'A' that I figured to get each semester. That strategy worked quite well.
As a matter of fact, Ed Mann and I won the medals for top German students. (Okay, technically I won the medal and Eddie took second, but we called ourselves 'the co-medal winners'). Strangely, there was a couch outside of the classroom (I think it was there for the Guidance Counselor's office across the hall). Ed and I dubbed it "the medal winners' couch", as we sat there, while others stood, waiting for our German classroom to open.
Ed was one of my best friends, although we have since lost contact, unfortunately. Greg Nessinger was another good friend and German student, but he wasn't as lucky in the class as Ed and I. I swear, one time we had to translate a short story. Greg's work and mine were virtually identical, yet somehow I got an 'A' and he got a 'C'. I guess it wasn't too funny to Greg back then, but Ed and I found it hysterical. Since Greg and I have remained in some contact, maybe he will read this and let me know if he finds it funny now years later. Hey, there wouldn't have been enough room on the medal winners' couch for 3 of us anyway.
I have no idea what our former teacher Andy Livingston is doing these days. He probably was only about ten years older than us. I am guessing he is teaching and coaching football somewhere.
I still remember some of my German, although the years and lack of use have started to erode it. One phrase that will always remain with me for whatever reason is an appropriate one to start the new year.
Und Glückliches Neujahr!

A Bunch of Losers

The NBA basketball season starts today. Who knows what kind of season my Chicago Bulls will have? They have been very inconsistent over the last few years.
One team who was consistent was the Losers. They...we were consistently bad. The Losers were my intramural basketball team during my senior year at Mt. Carmel. I was the starting off-guard (accent on off), although I am not really sure we had positions, except for Tom 'Hammer' Skalski. He was definitely our big man in the middle (and our enforcer, a role he gladly filled).
Other Losers included Dave 'Mooner' Plonczynski, Greg 'Ness' Nessinger, Keith Urbon, Mike Szotek, John Fleszewski, Jim 'Fish' Fisher, Todd Kruk and Ed Mann. We had a great time and even won 1 game. Each Loser will have his time to shine here, but for today, Tom Skalski gets his turn.

Dave Plonczynski, an opponent (in blue) and Tom Skalski in Mt. Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.