Degrees Of Separation

Though I longed to, I never got the chance to meet Ronald Reagan.

Therefore I had to rely on connections to greatness, such as Reagan and I both having worked for Palmer Communications (WHO & KLYF Radio), albeit years apart.

While I was on the Big Island, another of those Reagan connections passed away.

Robert "Bob" Weddell lived next door to the first home I ever purchased.

It was the early '80s and at that time I was working for KLYF, Bob invited me in to his house and showed me an invitation to Reagan's inauguration.

To say the least, I was curious about his Reagan memorabilia.

Bob explained that his dad had worked at WHO with Reagan.

Reagan fans will recall the story...

Jim Zabel: ...your ad-lib ability was really put to a super test with that machine right there, the old Western Union ticker tape that used to bring in the Chicago Cubs re-creations to you.

The President. Yes.

Zabel. And you had a stick one time—in that famous story—you fouled it off 34 times, 35 times.—

The President. [Laughing] Yes. It was— you sat—there was a window here. Curly Waddel was the operator, sat on that side with the headphones, and he would type and slip it under the window to me. And they used to keep track—because there'd be seven or eight stations competing and broadcasting, and most of them live, right at the park and we were within half a pitch of right up with the live ball game all the time.

Mr. Zabel. Sure.

The President. To do that, he had to abbreviate things down, like in would come the paper, and it would say, "Out 4-3." Well, that meant out from second base to first base, that meant it had to be a grounder. So, you'd take it, and you'd say, "And Dean comes out of the windup, and here comes the pitch, and it's a hard hit ground ball down toward second base. So-and-so going over after the ball, picks it up, flips it over to first, just in time for the out." And by this time you're waiting for the next one. Or he would send you "S-1-C." And that meant strike one called. So, you'd say, "He's got the sign, comes out of the windup, here's the pitch, and it's a called strike, breaking over the outside corner just"- [laughter] —"above the knees." And all of that.

But the thing that you're talking about was the time that—it was the ninth inning, the Cards and the Cubs, tied up 0-0, and he was typing, and I thought there's a play coming. And he kept shaking his head when I had—and it was Dean on the mound—and I had Billy Jurgess at the plate. And I had him getting a sign from the catcher, and finally here comes the slip of paper, and it said, "The wires have gone dead." And I knew in that ninth inning if I suddenly said, "Well, we'll have a little interlude of music while we get back connected with the ballpark," we'd lose every—they'd all turn on some of those other stations. So, I thought, "There's only one thing that can get in the—doesn't get in the score book: foul ball."

So, I had Jurgess foul one, and then I had him foul another. And then I had him foul one that missed a home run by a foot. Then I described two kids down back of third base that— [laughter] —were in a fight over the ball that had gone into the stands there. And pretty soon I know I'm beginning to set a world record for somebody standing at the plate and hitting successive fouls, if anyone ever kept those figures. And I was beginning to sweat a little, because I knew now that if I told them we'd lost the wire they'd know I hadn't been telling the truth.

Zabel. Who finally did get the hit in that game?

The President. Well, just—pretty soon, Curly started typing. And I had him throw another pitch, and in came the slip, and then I started giggling. I had trouble getting it out, because the slip said Jurgess popped out on the first ball pitched. [Laughter]

They mis-spelled Curly's last name, but his son Bob was proud of that story.

He was a good man and will be missed.

More Brain Suck

Eddie Haskell nice is how I'd have to describe the Big Lug Nut's politeness to each questioner during his debate encounter with Terry Branstad.

Other things that I took away from the evening --










I've never been a fan of the Bill Clinton thumbs up











Culver seems to have got it down pat.

Branstad should have been more clear on the debate format, wanting response time, especially after the moderators had just gone over it with the viewers.

Culver stumbled over Sioux City seeming to call it Sewer Water City.

Back to the bake sale analogy as Culver defends I-JOBS.

I love how Branstad shot down Culver's AAA bond rating by noting how Enron and Lehman Brothers both received the same rating from Moody's.

Culver used a majority of his time regarding the judicial selection process to go back to a previous question about bonding.

Culver seemed to be bragging about the 30,000 Iowans collecting extended unemployment benefits, but because Culver did not seek a change in the state's unemployment law roughly 18,000 Iowans have missed out on an 13 weeks of benefits paid for by the federal government.

Also, for the second straight year Iowa employers will be taxed more to support the Iowa Unemployment Insurance Trust Fund.

Back to the debate --

Culver claimed 16,000 jobs (?) have been created since December.

He must be counting the turnover in his official and campaign offices and the scientific community is united in that fact.

When questioned by Branstad, Culver could not name one (let alone the three asked for) of his biggest mistakes, yet said he takes full responsibility for his mistakes.

That lends credence to the belief that the mistakes he's admitting to making are just an insincere campaign ploy.

When Culver was given a chance to question Branstad he just talked and talked before finally asking him to admit I-JOBS was being funded with gaming revenue.

Those revenues continue to fall and I-JOBS could end up being paid back from the state's general fund.

Branstad scored with the 300,000 jobs he created as Governor versus the 50,000 jobs Culver has lost.

Education came up and Culver brought up his two "amazing" children.

Those kids have made a commercial for him, Clare seems to take after her dad and John after his mom, Mari.

Culver also claims preschool could be the defining issue in the campaign, which makes me wonder what happened to embryonic stem cell research?

Just last week it was to be a key to Culver winning re-election.

Branstad pointed out that preschool should not be an entitlement, funded by taxpayers for everyone, but should be paid for on the basis of need.

Congratulations to Culver on not breaking out Sweaty Chetty until roughly half way through the debate.

When questioned about what he would have done different about the floods of 2008, Culver started off his response about the tornado that hit the Little Sioux Scout Ranch and then mentioned being to Cedar Rapids 100 times.

When asked again what he would have done different, his response was nothing.

I loved how Branstad tied Jack DeCoster to the Dymmycrats with his $10,000 campaign contribution to Attorney General Tom Miller and to Culver via a $400,000 donation to the Democratic Governors ASSociation, which has funded Culver's campaign.

Thankfully nobody called Decoster a bad egg or a rotten egg.

I'm not sure what to make of Culver's claim that the "facts are getting in the way of the truth".

On the topic of economic development, Culver's plan to end brain drain in Iowa is with BRAIN SUCK.

As my lovely and talented wife pointed out to me, brain gain would have been more appropriate.

In his closing statement, Culver claimed Terry Branstad is against civil rights?

I've had personal encounters with both debate moderators, Larry Wentz and Amanda Krenz.

Larry is one of the nicest people you'll ever meet and when you say that about someone in broadcasting it is quite a statement.

Larry and I worked for the same company when he was in news at WHO TV and I was at KLYF Radio.

Larry organized the company basketball team and just a couple years ago organized a successful (and fun) reunion of onetime WHO TV/Radio and KLYF employees, where I reminded him that my grandmother (98 this month) was the house mother at his Iowa State fraternity and Larry shared nice memories of that experience.

It's All In The Game

I didn't know Dic Youngs well.

Because of radio, we had mutual friends like Cal Stout and Lee Githens, our paths crossed occasionally and he was always nice to me.

I think the first time we met was on a basketball court, in the mid '80s, when I was with KLYF and the station team (WHO TV & Radio Owls) played Youngsie's KIOA High Hoopers, so named because the company that one time did ratings of radio stations was named Hooper and KIOA always had High Hoopers.

The Ol' Youngster had given up playing then and was just coaching, but he liked to win as he had a few ringers on the team (Rick Wanamaker).

Dic and I also got a few on-air laughs one year during the Variety Club telethon when at, 6'8", I towered over him during an interview at the phone bank.

I remember we decided if we could get some dollars for each inch of height the telethon could end early.

I do recall this Tommy Edwards tune was his all time favorite.

Moi?

When I started this blog back in April, I had no idea of the attention I would receive.

I thought that a few friends would enjoy my stuff.

I had no idea I'd get people like this....

Muhammed Saeed al-Sahaf

Muhammed left a comment on my Donald Rumsfeld posting yesterday.

He also is part of another blog here...thebigmess.blogspot.com

Nice!?

Today I am totally stunned by this national recognition....

I have been named Time magazine's "Person of the Year"!!!

Ronald Reagan and I now have two things in common, both of us worked for Palmer Broadcasting---he at WHO Radio and me at KLYF Radio.

Apparently Time liked the content I create on the World Wide Web.

The 2006 "Person of the Year" hits newsstands tomorrow.

Maybe there's still hope I can win the Heisman!?

All I can say about my new found fame is, it's about TIME!