Revisiting the Losers

The Losers were my intramural high school basketball team.  We had a lot of fun, but not much success, going a crispy 1-6.  We didn't score a lot (nor did we stop our opponents from scoring a lot), but that just made Jim Fisher's job easier.
Jim was our designated scorekeeper and probably our biggest fan.  I believe I invited him to join our team, but he declined, instead offering to keep score.  That was great, since we couldn't spare any of our players to perform that duty.  We needed every reasonably able body on the court.
I lost all contact with Jim shortly after graduation.  I'd love to know what the mighty Fish is doing.  Hopefully, he is well and enjoying life.  Jim was one of the good guys.

Jim Fisher (in black Losers shirt) in Mount Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.

Old Times at Mount Carmel

Today, I am going back to my high school days for some hijinx. Technically, the picture is from my back yard, but it was taken while we waited for our friend to pick us up for the drive to Mt. Carmel.
This is another of those pictures that I love because of the wonderful 80's of it all.  Rick and I were both in our standard wear corduroys and our Mt. Carmel jackets.  I added the hooded sweatshirt (they weren't "hoodies" back then), while Rick had the back pocket comb.  Rick wore a winter knit cap, while I let my mane free (such a cap would have really given me a case of hat head).
We often sparred in the yard.  In reality, Rick would have killed me.  He had the reach, the height, the strength and the weight.  I might have given him a fight, but he would have won.
Rick was a good friend.  He was a key part of the cul-de-sac football that we played throughout high school.
Rick and I fell out of sorts late in high school.  I don't even remember what started it, but I know I gave him a lot of crap.  I was going through some rough times, but he was a friend and deserved better.
I lost track of Rick a long time ago, long before I was grown up enough to realize some of the problems I caused.  I never got to explain or apologize to Rick.
I doubt Rick will ever read this, but maybe someday he will.  Either way, at least I want to make that effort (too many years late that it might be).  I'd like a chance to talk to Rick and maybe heal an old wound.

Rick Kruk and me in Chicago, IL-Winter 1982.

The Losers Sixth (or Seventh) Man

We can't get enough of the Losers. Today, I am featuring our Sophomore sixth man, guard John Fleszewski.
John was a couple years behind most of us, although not the youngest guy on our team. John certainly brought his youthful energy to the court. He played in every game and might have even started one (how did that happen?). John lit up the net for a crispy 33.33% shooting percentage, leading our team in that category. (Okay, so he only took 3 shots, 33.33% is still 33.33%!)
John and I stayed in touch throughout college. He is a proud grad of Northern Illinois University (Go Huskies).
Thanks to the wonders of the internet and the intrusive world of Facebook, John and I have reconnected a bit. He is alive and well, still living in the greater Chicago area.
Again, despite the graininess, I love the picture. On the right is Greg Nessinger, trailing the play, but always ready for action (in other words, playing defense when the ball is stolen or the shot is missed). John is making a nice move, worthy of comparison to Pistol Pete Maravich. Look at how he is splitting the defenders. Simply poetry in motion.

John Fleszewski (with ball) and Greg Nessinger (black shirt on right) in Mt. Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.

Revisiting the Losers

Now that the Bears season is officially over (it really was over several weeks ago), Chicago fans can concentrate on hockey and basketball. With the Bulls floundering, I figured I would pull out another "Loser" basketball team.
As I have written before, the Losers were my intramural basketball team back at Mt. Carmel high school. We weren't successful, but we were gritty and we had fun. We would have had more fun if we actually won a real game. We won one game by forfeit when the other team didn't show up (we must have scared them) and we won an exhibition game against a bunch of our girl friends (hey, they had us outmanned 7-5).
We had one major accomplishment however. We made the MC yearbook. Yep, right there on page 82, there was a picture of someone grabbing a rebound against us. Loser Mike Szotek (#42) appears to be boxing out his man, while Keith Urbon (far right) was ready to grab the rebound and is perhaps ready to go for a steal. Okay, the guy probably put it right back in for another score against us, but that is pure speculation. I like my story better.

Mike Szotek (#42) and Keith Urban (far right) in Mt. Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.

Friendly Encounters

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

For today's feature, I went old school. Literally, old school, as in my old school, Mount Carmel High School.
Fr. Robert Carroll was one of my favorite teachers. The flannel-wearing priest taught 'Philosophical Literature' and 'Existential Literature' and I did well in both. I won the medal as the top student in Ex. Lit. and I probably should have won it in both, but I don't think that was allowed. It was in these classes that I really started to develop some real writing skills.
Anyway, Mt. Carmel held many fund-raising events. At one such event, veteran actor Danny Thomas was a special guest celebrity. Thomas was a major hit with the crowd.
I am surprised MC didn't cover the event better. Even in the yearbook, there was only one picture and that is below. Maybe it is my Marketing background which just screams that there should have been more pre- and post-event hype.
Fortunately for Johngy's Beat, that one photo existed and I am happy to reproduce it here.

Danny Thomas and Fr. Robert Carroll in Chicago, IL-Early 1980's.

The Original MC Hammer

A while ago, I wrote a piece about meeting Stanley Burrell in his pre-MC Hammer days. I have also written about a great old friend, Tom Skalski. I was with Tom, when I met Burrell. Tom read that piece and reminded me of an obvious point that I completely missed.
Back when we were at Mt. Carmel High School, Tom was nicknamed 'The Hammer'. This would be before Burrell started using the Hammer moniker.
Could it be mere coincidence? Burrell meets us at a baseball game. He hears that the Hammer is going to Mt. Carmel (aka MC). Then, just a short time later, Burrell starts calling himself MC Hammer.
I think it is a clearcut case of Moniker Infringement. Clearly, Tom Skalski is the original MC Hammer! I think Skalski has a case against Burrell. I was witness to the whole series of events unfolding. I even have old Geometry books with Skalski's trademark Hammer drawn (in his attempts to get me to crack up in Mr. Gorches' class). The proof is all there.
Tom, if you need me buddy...I am there!

Tom "MC Hammer" Skalski (left-ish with wristbands) in Mt. Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.

My Cousin Ernie:Part 1

My immediate family is fairly close. It is beyond that where things start to unravel a bit. A few months ago, one of my cousins contacted my sisters and me in an effort to change the course a bit.
Ernie is my first cousin's first son. I am about 9 years older than him. As kids, we all used to hang out together at my grandmother's house. Ernie's father taught me to play chess when I was about 11.
The elders in our family had their share of problems and issues. Somehow, we all drifted apart. Truthfully and unfortunately, I have had very little contact with him for over 20 years.
Since Ernie contacted us, I have started learning about the 'missing years'. For instance, I knew Ernie went to Mt. Carmel High School (my alma mater), but I did not know he was in a movie while he was there.
The motion picture Rudy was the first movie to be filmed on the Notre Dame campus since Knute Rockne, All American in 1942. The film was also shot at other locations, one of which was Mt. Carmel on Chicago's southside.
Ernie appeared in the movie and can be seen in the clip below. When the camera angle changes to face Sean Astin (as Rudy), Ernie is completely visible right there behind him.

I think that is pretty cool. Being in any movie would be awesome. Being in one of the greatest sports movies of all time makes it that much better.
Oh and by the way, today is Ernie's birthday. Happy Birthday, Ernie!!!!

My cousin Ernie's scene from Rudy.

Pre-Fame...Pre-Johngy

Erik Pappas was a year behind me at Mt. Carmel High School in Chicago. Pappas was a very good athlete and I wasn't, but our paths crossed a few times during intramural sporting events.
Pappas was selected as a catcher by the California Angels in the 1984 amateur draft, but made his major league debut with his hometown Chicago Cubs in 1991. Pappas only played in 7 games for the Cubs who released him after the season. He signed with the Kansas City Royals, who later traded him to the Chicago White Sox.After spending the 1992 season in the minors, he signed with the St. Louis Cardinals and made it back to the majors in 1993, playing in 82 games and hitting .276 for the Cardinals. Pappas slumped in 1994, batting only .091 in 58 plate appearances. In 1995, Pappas played in AAA for the Florida Marlins. In 1996, he played in AAA for the Texas Rangers. Pappas retired with a career average of .242 with 1 HR and 35 RBI's.
In 2004, he represented Greece at the 2004 Athens Olympic Games. Currently Pappas is a coach at Cangelosi Baseball.

Erik Pappas from the Mt. Carmel yearbook.

Another Loser

Dave Plonczynski was one of the most spirited members of my intra-mural basketball team, the Losers. Mooner always brought a great sense of humor to the games and with a 1-6 record, we needed humor.
Plonczynski and I became friends in our Junior year at Mount Carmel. We spent many weekends at Friar Tuck's and Wright's Barnyard, two great video arcades in the Calumet City-Lansing (IL) area. Bowling was another great time-spender, although Plonczynski was a bit of a ringer, as he was on MC's bowling team.
Plonczynski was a natural choice for the Losers. He wanted to win and tried to win, but he didn't take losing too hard. That was the spirit of the Losers! Whether slotted at guard or forward, Plonczynski gave it his all. Plonczynski scored 8 points in 5 games.
I have recently reconnected with Plonczynski. He is a father of 4, doing well, living in the western suburbs and is anxious for a Losers reunion.

John Fleszewski (top left) attempts to pass to Dave Plonczynski (white stripes) in Mt. Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.

More Losers:Keith Urbon

Long before their was country music great Keith Urban, there was Keith Urbon, a Mount Carmel high school friend and one of my teammates on the Losers. While Urban has won 2 Grammy Awards, Urbon would probably have won the Losers MVP Award, if we had one. Urbon is a native of Hegewisch (IL) and sat in front of me through most of high school (alphabetical order ruled back then). Urbon was a huge fan of the White Sox and picked his Losers #10 in honor of then-manager Tony LaRussa.
Urbon's versatility (or the Losers lack of formal strategy) paid off as he played every position on the basketball court. Although he started slow, over the last 3 games of our season, he averaged 7.66 points, on the way to leading our team in total points with 27.
I am not sure why Urbon is clapping in the photo below. My guess would be that the buzzer sounded ending our final game and our dismal 1-6 season. It's an odd photo all around though. One of our opponents (in green) seems to be looking up, perhaps at a rebound. I am semi-running into the play from far left court.

Keith Urbon, me and an opponent (green) in Mt. Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.

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!

Bear Down Sunday #15 (Will Be Monday)

The Chicago Bears are 8-6 and again facing a must win situation. Unfortunately, they also need the Minnesota Vikings to lose. Monday night, the Green Bay Packers are in Chicago to play the Bears.
Back in 1980, Mike Tomczak was the quarterback for Thornton Fractional North High School. TF North was playing Mt. Carmel in a playoff game. Mt. Carmel, lead by linebacker Tony Furjanic, beat Tomczak's TF North team. I almost felt bad for Tomczak as our paths crossed on the field as the game ended.
After a good career at Ohio State University, Tomczak signed with the Bears as a free agent. Tomczak appeared in 6 games as the Bears went on to win the Super Bowl in his first year. Somewhat surprisingly, Tomczak would end up being the last active member of that Bears team.
Tomczak played in Chicago for 6 seasons before joining the Packers for a year. One year in Cleveland followed that and then he was off to Pittsburgh for the next 7 years.
Many people forget that Tomczak's career ended with the Detroit Lions. He signed with the Lions, but suffered a broken leg in the pre-season.

More Losers

Wow, look at this great action shot of the starting off-guard of the Losers, namely me (although it is definitely pre-Johngy). I love this photo because it has so much to offer. My hair. My glasses. My athletic form. My 80's clothing style (hey at least it wasn't a jogging suit).
The ref to my right is Fr. Mike O'Keefe, one of our teachers. He was a real tough guy, who once challenged me to a bathroom brawl for some classroom indiscretion on my part. I don't even remember what I did, but assuming I was wrong, I still think a fight in the bathroom was not a way to build my character.
Also in the shot (although barely visible to my left) is Fr. Gavin Quinn. Ironically, he bore a resemblance to Gavin MacLeod. I attended a basketball game after graduation and ran into Fr. Gavin. Shortly after, he dropped my name to an alum who was looking for some part-time office help. I landed the job at CWO&O, which I kept all throughout my college years. I also met friend and future client Fran Gallagher of Global Traveler magazine at that job (but that's a story for another day).
With that crisp inbounds pass, I am sure we scored quickly (or more likely it was intercepted and slammed home by one of our opponents). I think I managed to score a crispy 2 points per game, but had there been a 3 point shot back then, it would have been 2.5 points per game!

Fr. Mike (the ref) and me in Mt. Carmel gym in Chicago, IL-Spring 1983.

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.