From the Saturday, Oct. 26, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST Sometimes success happens when you’re expecting, well, disaster. Like, back on Oct. 23, 1999, for example. On that crisp fall day, I was at The Big House in Ann Arbor to cover the Illinois-Michigan […]
Author Archives: Dave
Waters still choppy as 2019 Illini Football sets sail
From the Saturday, Aug. 31, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST Illini Nation is restless. As the 2019 football season dawns in Champaign with Illinois’ opener against Akron (11 a.m., BTN), head coach Lovie Smith’s program has generated only nine wins in his first three […]
Wisch Lists are for New Year’s
From the Saturday, Dec. 29, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST Wish lists are for Christmas. But Wisch Lists? Well, just like every year, they’re for New Year’s. As you read today’s column, I’m with my wife out in Los Angeles for the first leg […]
Winter Meetings over, but Harper sweepstakes just heating up
From the Saturday, Dec. 15, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST With the Major League Baseball Winter Meetings winding down last Wednesday afternoon, uber-agent Scott Boras held court beneath a Christmas tree in Las Vegas to discuss the sweepstakes surrounding his prized client – Bryce Harper. […]
The key for the Cubs in 2019? It might be simple
From the Saturday, Oct. 13, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST On the second-to-last day of Major League Baseball’s regular season, the Chicago Cubs owned the best record in the National League. Three days later, their season was over. As much I wish the Cubs […]
The future of the Cubs’ rotation is a big ‘Q’
From the Saturday, Aug. 18, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST When it comes to brilliant baseball trades, the Cubs have pulled off more than their fair share in recent years. Theo Epstein and Jed Hoyer turned Scott Feldman into Jake Arrieta and Pedro Strop. […]
The fix is in (progress) with Illini basketball
From the Saturday, March 10, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST Illini basketball needs a fix. Much of Illini Nation finds itself in a fix. And after dealing with both, well … could someone fix me a drink? Last week, first-year Illinois coach Brad Underwood […]
Celebrating Chicago’s starring role in filmmaking history
From the Saturday, March 3, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST With the 90th Academy Awards taking place on Sunday night, all eyes are on Hollywood this weekend – especially Hollywood’s own, as it rarely has eyes for any place else when it comes to […]
Baseball is back to bury our Winter of Discontent
From the Saturday, Feb. 17, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST The Bulls are bad. The Blackhawks are bad. Illini basketball is bad. Northwestern’s is too. At 22-5, Loyola’s hoops are looking good – but, let’s be honest, the Ramblers are hardly going to get […]
Last-Minute Valentine’s Day plans for you lazy lovebirds
From the Saturday, Feb. 10, editions of The Daily Journal (Kankakee, Ill.) and The Times (Ottawa, Ill.) … The WISCH LIST It’s not quite Valentine’s Day, but let’s be honest. If you haven’t already made your plans for Feb. 14, well, then I’d say you’re liable to be left out in the cold. Both by […]