A Programming Note

Four years ago I founded the website Just One Bad Century, a site devoted to Chicago Cubs history and Chicago Cubs fans.

That same year I wrote the lyrics to a song intended to fire up the troops. It was called "We can wait 100 years"; a parody of the Proclaimer's hit "I Can Walk 500 Miles".

It got a bunch of airplay on Chicago radio that season: John Landecker played it on WLS, and Johnny B played it on the Loop (WLUP-FM 97.9).

Well this year Brandmeier started playing it on his show again (he's now on WGN) when he was hyping a Cubs song contest. He mentioned on the air that he wished the writer would update the song for him, because it mentions people no longer around (like Lou Piniella and Kosuke Fukodome).

So, I rewrote the words, and the guy that sings it, Tom Latourette, went into the studio to re-record it. (I will be posting the new version on the website soon.)

In the meantime, you can hear it live on WGN radio tomorrow morning at 8:00. Tom will be singing it live on Johnny B's remote broadcast from outside Wrigley Field. I will also be on hand to lend moral support. Please tune in--it should be fun.

Here's the original song for those of you that don't remember it...

Cubs 365, February 29

Every day in 2012, the Just One Bad Century blog will feature a story about this day in Cubs history. We're calling it Cubs 365.

On Leap day in 1944, Cub fan Dennis Farina was born.

He was a Chicago cop, working as a consultant on cop movies, when he got the acting bug. His first major role: playing a Chicago cop.

He has since gone on to have a distinguished acting career with some classic films and television series among his credits, including "Midnight Run", "Get Shorty", "Saving Private Ryan", "The Mod Squad", "Police Story" and "Law and Order."

But he's also made no secret of his love for the Chicago Cubs. He didn't just play an avid fan alongside Dennis Franz in the play "The Bleacher Bums" for a few years. He lived it.

In 2006, he narrated the Cubs documentary "Wait Til Next Year" for HBO. He also contributed to the film "This Old Cub" in 2004.

And when he comes back to his hometown of Chicago, he makes the pilgrimage to that shrine on the North Side.

Because Dennis Farina is a Cubs fan.

The JOBC Souvenir Stand

A note for all of you Christmas shoppers out there, even though our website Just One Bad Century has closed down shop for the off-season, the JOBC Souvenir Stand remains open. There are a handful of different shirt options, not to mention our popular JOBC hat.

The "Losing is soooo last century" shirt is a popular choice this year. It looks like optimism has returned to Wrigley Field.

The 1945 World Series

A ChicagoNow blogger remembers the 1945 World Series.

He was there.

AP Article

There's a great AP reporter named Don Babwin who likes to call me for quotes when the Cubs are in the news, especially when he's writing a story that could use a Cub fan's perspective. He calls me because he knows that I'll be following the story (because of Just One Bad Century) and he knows that I'll give him a colorful quote (because of Just One Bad Century).

The best thing about getting quoted in an AP story is that runs all across the country. And this week's story about Theo Epstein is no exception.

It's in the Boston Globe.

It's in the Washington Post.

And it's in just about every other newspaper in the country, and some others outside the country, like The Winnipeg Free Press.

All I can say is: "Thanks Don."

Oldest Cubs Fan

There aren't many left that were alive when the Cubs last won the World Series, but there is at least one. His name is Archie, he lives in Peoria, and he's 107 years old.

RIP Bear Tracks

His nickname was Bear Tracks, but his actual name was Johnny Schmitz.

He was a member of the Cubs during some of their darkest days, but Schmitz was also one of their best players. He actually won 18 games (and appeared in the All-Star game) for one of their worst teams of all-time, the 1948 Cubs. So of course, they traded him.

Bear Tracks passed away this weekend in Wisconsin at the age of 90.