Revisiting Jim Forsell and the Bet

Last March, I wrote about Jim Forsell's bet with Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star.  The Chicago Cubs failed to make the playoffs, which meant Jim lost the bet and had to push a baseball across the State Street Bridge in Rockford (IL).  Jim, a man of his word (and always up for a little publicity), recently paid his debt.
Johngy's Beat got an (almost) exclusive interview with Jim in which he stated, "I think an elephant must have been standing on my back when I made those 250 (Un-Official National Ball Rolling Association stats) pushes across the bridge.  My sides feel like I was hit 100 times (on each side) with a phungo bat.  To say nothing of eating an entire humble pie."
Jim apparently id not learn his lesson though.  He renewed the bet for 2011, which will be his 50th year of following the Cubs.  You have to admire his staunch belief (or is it just pettiness, hoping to get even with Trowbridge?).  Either way, Johngy's Beat will keep you updated on the insanity.
The following clip of Jim comes to you courtesy of the Rockford Register Star.

Friendly Encounters

This is a weekly feature highlighting friends who have met celebs.

When we last saw Jim Forsell here, he was sitting in the Wrigley Field dugout. Today, he is featured on Waveland Avenue, near Wrigley Field, but more on that in a minute.
The cubs are woefully out of the playoff race. Aside from the regular yearly angst this causes Jim (and all of us Cubs fans), this will also force Jim to live up to his bet with Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register-Star. Jim laid down the gauntlet and now he will have to kneel down as he pushes a baseball with his nose across the State Street bridge in Rockford.
Back to Jim's Friendly Encounter with a Cub...Jim had just enjoyed a thrilling 1-0 Cubs victory over the Los Angeles Dodgers. While walking down Waveland, Jim saw this Cub and asked him if he read Johngy's Beat.
The Cub replied, "I don't even take a sip of my coffee, with cream and honey, without first reading Johngy's Beat."
I appreciate Jim sharing this story and picture. More than that, I appreciate the spirit of it all. Jim saw a Friendly Encounter opportunity and he took it! That's really what I like. I hope more people follow Jim's lead.

Jim Forsell and a (Chicago) Cub in Chicago, IL-May 2010.

Spotlight on Jim Forsell

When we last saw Jim Forsell, it was in a Friendly Encounters with jockey Earlie Fires. That featured garnered tremendous response (all from Jim). Still, it was enough to warrant another appearance by Jim.
Recently Jim launched himself into the national spotlight (or at least the Rockford area light) by challenging Matt Trowbridge of the Rockford Register Star. Trowbridge accepted Jim's challenge about the Chicago Cubs making the 2010 playoffs. If the Cubs make it, Trowbridge will push a baseball with his nose across the State Street bridge. If the Cubs choke, Jim will be the baseball pusher. Either way, Johngy's Beat will be there to cover the event.

Jim isn't just a Cubs fan though. He is a baseball aficionado with a clever mind (and apparently lots of time on his hands). Jim searched rosters, consulted with coaches, looked to the north star, ate some Cheerios and had a little fun with some baseball names.

The All-Restaurant Team:Felix Pie, Phil Coke, Coco Crisp, Garrett Mock, Robert Ray, Donnie Veal, Aaron Cook, Mike Carp and Renyel Pinto.
The All-Travel Team:Luke French, Bobby Crosby, John Maine, Ricky Romero, Mike Parisi, Wade Leblanc and Craig Italiano.
The All-Hairpiece Team:Ubaldo Jiminez
The All-O Team:Carlos Zambrano, Geovany Soto, Alfonso Soriano, Ryan Theriot, John Grabow, Wellington Castillo, Sterlin Castro, Mike Fontenot, Matt Sinatro and Andres Blanco (Editor's Note:This team has a strong Chicag-O Cubs flavor to it)
The All-Banker Team:Travis Buck, Brad Penny and John Meloan.
The All-Six Syllable Team:Jared Saltalamacchia.
The Great-Name Team:Boof Bonser, J.J. Putz, Denard Span, Coco Crisp, Lastings Milledge, Claudio Vargas, Augie Ojeda, Jair Jurrjens and Placido Polanco.
The All-Entertainment Team:Martin & Lucas and Michael Bourn.
The All-Chicago Streets Team:Huston Street, Ryan Dempster and Randy Wells.
The All-History Team:Adam Kennedy, Mark Hamilton, Brad Lincoln and Mike Lincoln.
The All-Charles Dickens Team:Oliver Twist, David Copperfield, Nichlas Nickleby, Daniel Quilp and Agnes Wickfield.
Below, Jim is sitting on the bench in the Cubs dugout during a 2009 tour of Wrigley Field. He says if there was an All-Bench Warmer Team, he'd be a strong candidate.

Jim Forsell in Wrigley Field in Chicago, IL-late 2000's.

Friendly Encounters

This is another in a series of meetings of my friends and celebs.

My friend Chuck T. Gekas hired Jim Forsell in 1992 or 1993 when Chachi headed special sections for the Chicago Sun-Times. Jim is a great guy (according to a survey of 2 people carefully selected by Jim himself), who loves the Chicago Cubs. He lives in Rockford (IL) where he attends several ball games a year for the minor league club. Jim has written several short plays and has done some public speaking.
Forsell has written a 10-minute play about a Cubs fan/idea man who after a 100 year shut-out (now 101), stages a Cubs World Series win at Wrigley Field. For more info on this or anything else about Jim, you can email him at Jim4Sell@me.com. Tell him Johngy sent you.
Forsell tied for 8th place in this year's Team Baseball Pool run by Chachi and me. More importantly, his humor earned him the prestigious Johngy Points crown. If you like baseball, pools and good competition, be sure to join us in 2010 (cheap pool plug, but it's my blog!).

It was in this pool, that I did a plug for this site and this feature. Jim answered my plea with his picture with legendary jockey Earlie Fires at Arlington Park.
This is the first appearance by a jockey and by Jim (jim is on the right). Thanks to Jim for sharing this.

Earlie Fires and Jim Forsell at Arlington Park in Arlington Park, IL-August 2009.