Leaving his Mark

This week, in a measure of extending my own personal Thanksgiving a little longer, I’m sharing my series of columns that I wrote in 2003 for The Daily Times in Ottawa, Ill., about the remarkable tale of Mark Wiebe. Mark’s story, which I also published in my 2004 book “Northern IlliNOISE: Tales of a Territory,” […]

SMA: See Mark Amaze

This week, in a measure of extending my own personal Thanksgiving a little longer, I’m sharing my series of columns that I wrote in 2003 for The Daily Times in Ottawa, Ill., about the remarkable tale of Mark Wiebe. Mark’s story, which I also published in my 2004 book “Northern IlliNOISE: Tales of a Territory,” […]

Carving up Illinois’ post-Thanksgiving sports scene

Today’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Carving up Illinois’ post-Thanksgiving sports scene The WISCH LIST Nov. 26, 2011 Thanksgiving is gone. And your leftovers might be, too. But, fear not, my friends. With a full menu of football and hockey on tap this weekend, followed by […]

Embarking upon Chicago’s ‘Tiniest Bar Crawl’

From the Saturday, Nov. 19, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … Embarking upon Chicago’s ‘Tiniest Bar Crawl’ The WISCH LIST Nov. 19, 2011 It’s nicknamed “The City of Big Shoulders,” but Chicago has a lot of tiny joints nestled throughout its sprawling streetscapes, too. And this past weekend, […]

On Paterno, Penn State and the folly of sports worship

Today’s newspaper column from The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … On Paterno, Penn State and the folly of sports worship The WISCH LIST November 12, 2011 Each morning in classrooms across America, schoolchildren stand up, place their right hand over their heart and recite the Pledge of Allegiance, during which […]