Sunday Comics

Sunday Comic: Obama Sees Rough Months Ahead

What is it that has the president so pessimistic as spring unfolds? Oh ... that.

•  33 Comments
• Photos (1)

Carlton Fisk Catches New Court Date

The Cooperstown catcher's drunken driving case was postponed again.

It's been a month and a week since baseball immortal Carlton Fisk was allegedly found passed out behind the wheel of his pickup in a New Lenox cornfield, but the former Red and White Sox star has yet to make it into a Joliet courtroom. Fisk was scheduled for a hearing Thursday morning but his drunken driving case postponed until Dec. 17. Fisk's lawyer, Stephen White, is fighting to get his superstar client's driver's license back and to have evidence ejected from the case. Fisk, 64, lost his license when he allegedly refused to take a breathalyzer test during his arrest Oct. 22 on charges of driving under the influence, improper lane usage and illegal transportation of alcohol. White has also filed a motion claiming the New Lenox police …

•  14 Comments
• Photos (1)

Workers of the World Unite!

Happy Labor Day, from all of us at the Shorewood Patch.

It's Labor Day. We hope you're enjoying the day off, or the holiday pay if you have to work. And if you're out of a job or have one that doesn't compensate you at a premium rate for being there on a national holiday, then sorry. But for the lucky ones, this is arguably the greatest holiday of the year. The weather's usually pleasant, there are no religious obligations, you have a full-slate of baseball running from early afternoon until late at night, there are Labor Day sales if shopping is your thing, and it's all to honor the "contributions and achievements of American workers," says history.com. And how can you argue with that? We can't, and wouldn't want to if we could. What we do want is to enjoy our day off, and we want you to enjoy…

•  1 Comment
• Photos (1)

Sunday Comics

Sunday Comic: Talking Smack About the Cubs

The North Siders just can't get any respect these days.

•  6 Comments
• Photos (1)

A Diamond Gem at JCA

Joliet Catholic Academy held a ceremony to dedicate a new baseball backstop for Gillespie Field.

It was a beautiful day for a ballgame. And an even better day for a ceremony. Joliet Catholic Academy dedicated its new baseball backstop for Gillespie Field on Wednesday afternoon, including a pair of plaques that were made to commemorate the project’s completion. Coordinated by the Development Office and with the approval of the administration, the extended, state-of-the-art backstop, new grandstand platform and landscaping was a project initiated by the families of the baseball program and achieved through the generosity of the JCA baseball community. Jeffrey Budz, JCA’s Principal and CEO, was joined by Athletic Director Dan Sharp and Hilltopper baseball coach Jared Voss as speakers before the Rev. Jeff Smialek offered a prayer and …

• Photos (1)

Cub CF Bob Dernier to Help Run CrackerJacks

Cubs standout centerfielder Bob Dernier, now associate head coach and director of baseball operations for the Will County CrackerJacks, will be in Shorewood.

Former Cub centerfielder Bob Dernier coached first base for the North Siders two years ago. This year he will help run things for the Will County CrackerJacks as the squad's associate head coach and director of baseball operations. And on Thursday Dernier will be at Conrad's Harley-Davidson in Shorewood, where he will meet with Chamber of Commerce members from 5 p.m. to 7 p.m. The CrackerJacks are entering their second season as the local entry in a collegiate wooden bat league set to open its season Friday. Last season, the CrackerJacks won the Midwest Collegiate League Championship, and are of course looking to repeat the feat in 2012. The organization is keeping tradition alive following their championship inaugural season. They kicked …

•  2 Comments
• Photos (1)

'Better Know an Umpire' Part 2

The Deadspin feature highlighted yet another umpire with local ties. Kind of.

Last week we told you about the Deadspin feature Better Know an Umpire because it profiled former Shorewood resident (and Shorewood Patch blogger) Mark Carlson. Today Deadspin turned its spotlight on Laz Diaz, who may be from Miami, but is best know for his run-in with Bolingbrook's own Eric Dybas. Deadspin backs us up on this too: "Diaz was attacked by a drunken fan during a game at US Cellular Field on April 15, 2003. Diaz, who was not hurt, later said, 'We spoke about it in the locker room, this is where Tom Gamboa got attacked. We thought nothing was going to happen, but it was a full moon out there.' Eric Dybas later pled guilty and got six months in jail." Deadspin calls this Diaz's "claim to fame," and we have to agree.

• Photos (1)

JCA Athletic Trio Signs On

Joliet Catholic Academy's Chris Blatti, Mallory Goulding and Hailey Pennington will continue their athletic careers in college.

After playing two seasons of varsity softball and then transferring to Joliet Catholic Academy for her final two years, senior Mallory Goulding has developed into an expert on picking the proper school. “The feeling you get when you walk into a place,” Goulding said, “is what makes it special for me.” First JCA. And now … Goulding, a pitcher and first baseman, confirmed her commitment with NAIA softball standout Benedictine College of Kansas last Wednesday on National Letter of Intent Signing Day in JCA’s Heritage Hall. A Plainfield native, Goulding is the daughter of David and Constance. She was joined at the ceremony by baseball pitcher Chris Blatti, the son of Michael and Mary, who signed with NAIA power Joliet St. Francis. Completing …

• Photos (1)

Shorewood's Mark Carlson Featured On Deadspin

Shorewood's own Mark Carlson was featured today on Deadspin.

Major League Umpire, Most Interesting Man in Troy Township (2011) and erstwhile Shorewood Patch blogger Mark Carlson was spotlighted in Deadspin's ongoing feature Better Know an Umpire. The piece profiles Carlson's professional work, listing the leagues he umped in before making the bigs, his height and weight, uniform number, and this "claim to fame:" "Causing Cubs pitcher Carlos Zambrano to completely lose his mind in May 2009. Video showed Carlson's call was correct, and Zambrano was suspended for six games." While Carlson called Shorewood home while he was blogging for Shorewood Patch, we recently heard he and his family moved to Florida. We just gave him a call on his cell to ask but haven't heard back yet. Interestingly, the Deadspin…

• Photos (2)