An Interview of me as provided by Stan
Questions by Stan, answers by me
1. Isn't it true (for all the people who say otherwise) that there's no place like Chicago to get either pizza or a hot dog?
There is very much a truth to the statement that there's no place like Chicago to get either a pizza or a hot dog. I generally chalk this up to me being a pizza and hot dog snob, but for me when a place says they have Chicago style all they really have is a cheap imitation. This is more true for pizza than it is for hot dogs, I've actually found a place or two that I can get a decent dog at, but generally those are the places that are run by former Chicagoans or get their stuff shipped from the Windy City. It is odd too because you go to a place like the chain form of Pizzeria Uno (the Chicago restuarant in the heart of downtown that claims to be the originator of Chicago Style deep dish) and the result is just not the same. ON this same note one can also add the phenomenon of Italian Beef to the list of foods that really aren't the same outside of Chicago.
2. Who's the best Chicago Fire player ever to have suited up?
While there may be much debate from pundits on this one as players like DeMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, and Josh Wolff have had success overseas that was garnered by stellar play in the MLS and specifically with the Fire, I can honestly say there are two answers to this depending on how you look at it. Internationally and pure talent wise the greatest player ever to don a Fire uniform would probably be considered the Mad Bulgarian Hristo Stoitchkov, the one time winner of the World Cup's Golden Boot and a very successful player for one season with the Fire. The flipside here is if you look at the greatest player ever to have suited up for the Fire and ask a true fan of the team, the answer you would get and I give when I'm asked is Piotr Nowak. Nowak was the heart and soul of the Fire from its inception in 1998 to his retirement prior to the 2003 season. He was a player that when you saw him get the ball and start off with his little stutter step run, you knew something magical was going to happen. Nowak was a true #10, or for the non-soccer fans a true field general (the #10 is generally the uniform number given to a play-making midfielder) and the Fire have yet to discover another since his retirement.
3. Why can't drivers who grew up anywhere south of Joliet drive in snow?
I honestly have no explanation of this one, nor do I have an explanation of why the State of Wisconsin seems ill-prepared for snow storms each time they happen, despite being in a northern climate prone to snow. All I know of these two facts are that they are true.
4. If you could take over as GM and re-build any sports franchise which is currently languishing in the cellar, which one would it be?
This one is a tough one for me, cause I did once dream of becoming a GM. There are so many good options- I'd love to take over the Fire and fix the problem they have of 90 percent of their team favors playing on the left side. I'd definately love to take a crack at the Blackhawks because I don't understand how a team that has one of the top minor league franchises in the AHL in Norfolk can have such a rotten product on the NHL level. If it were my team I would gut it and bring up the majority of the AHL guys in Norfolk, keep Savard as an Assistant and hire one of the best coaches I have ever seen in Claude Noelle of the Milwaukee Admirals. The guy works well with youth, having had the Admirals lose their top 6 scorers to Nashville, the European leagues and trades to other teams by Nashville and yet he still produces a great product that is fighting for the Calder Cup. Heck look at the Nashville roster and the recent Peter Forsberg trade and you'll see a roster of players and trading pieces that Claude groomed.
5. Who from WGRE do you keep up with these days?
Of the old WGRE crew I have tried to maintain contact with Rinder and Shawver with not much success. I have booked Chris May and Brad Wochomurka as guests for the show that I produce on occassion. I also still talk to Brian Kern, who is now in coaching with DePauw's Women's BBall team, and current program director Matt Barwise every so often.
And, just to reciprocate:
If you want to be interviewed,
1. Leave me a comment to that effect.
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.
1. Isn't it true (for all the people who say otherwise) that there's no place like Chicago to get either pizza or a hot dog?
There is very much a truth to the statement that there's no place like Chicago to get either a pizza or a hot dog. I generally chalk this up to me being a pizza and hot dog snob, but for me when a place says they have Chicago style all they really have is a cheap imitation. This is more true for pizza than it is for hot dogs, I've actually found a place or two that I can get a decent dog at, but generally those are the places that are run by former Chicagoans or get their stuff shipped from the Windy City. It is odd too because you go to a place like the chain form of Pizzeria Uno (the Chicago restuarant in the heart of downtown that claims to be the originator of Chicago Style deep dish) and the result is just not the same. ON this same note one can also add the phenomenon of Italian Beef to the list of foods that really aren't the same outside of Chicago.
2. Who's the best Chicago Fire player ever to have suited up?
While there may be much debate from pundits on this one as players like DeMarcus Beasley, Carlos Bocanegra, and Josh Wolff have had success overseas that was garnered by stellar play in the MLS and specifically with the Fire, I can honestly say there are two answers to this depending on how you look at it. Internationally and pure talent wise the greatest player ever to don a Fire uniform would probably be considered the Mad Bulgarian Hristo Stoitchkov, the one time winner of the World Cup's Golden Boot and a very successful player for one season with the Fire. The flipside here is if you look at the greatest player ever to have suited up for the Fire and ask a true fan of the team, the answer you would get and I give when I'm asked is Piotr Nowak. Nowak was the heart and soul of the Fire from its inception in 1998 to his retirement prior to the 2003 season. He was a player that when you saw him get the ball and start off with his little stutter step run, you knew something magical was going to happen. Nowak was a true #10, or for the non-soccer fans a true field general (the #10 is generally the uniform number given to a play-making midfielder) and the Fire have yet to discover another since his retirement.
3. Why can't drivers who grew up anywhere south of Joliet drive in snow?
I honestly have no explanation of this one, nor do I have an explanation of why the State of Wisconsin seems ill-prepared for snow storms each time they happen, despite being in a northern climate prone to snow. All I know of these two facts are that they are true.
4. If you could take over as GM and re-build any sports franchise which is currently languishing in the cellar, which one would it be?
This one is a tough one for me, cause I did once dream of becoming a GM. There are so many good options- I'd love to take over the Fire and fix the problem they have of 90 percent of their team favors playing on the left side. I'd definately love to take a crack at the Blackhawks because I don't understand how a team that has one of the top minor league franchises in the AHL in Norfolk can have such a rotten product on the NHL level. If it were my team I would gut it and bring up the majority of the AHL guys in Norfolk, keep Savard as an Assistant and hire one of the best coaches I have ever seen in Claude Noelle of the Milwaukee Admirals. The guy works well with youth, having had the Admirals lose their top 6 scorers to Nashville, the European leagues and trades to other teams by Nashville and yet he still produces a great product that is fighting for the Calder Cup. Heck look at the Nashville roster and the recent Peter Forsberg trade and you'll see a roster of players and trading pieces that Claude groomed.
5. Who from WGRE do you keep up with these days?
Of the old WGRE crew I have tried to maintain contact with Rinder and Shawver with not much success. I have booked Chris May and Brad Wochomurka as guests for the show that I produce on occassion. I also still talk to Brian Kern, who is now in coaching with DePauw's Women's BBall team, and current program director Matt Barwise every so often.
And, just to reciprocate:
If you want to be interviewed,
1. Leave me a comment to that effect.
2. I respond by asking you five personal questions.
3. You will update your blog with the answers to the questions.
4. You will include this explanation and an offer to interview someone else in the post.
5. When others comment asking to be interviewed, you will ask them five questions.