5 Minutes with 363dp

1/What If Sports. How long have you been on the site, and how did you end up here? What is your favorite game here? Favorite team or experience on the site?
  I found WIS in 2006 after hearing about on a sports radio show talking about their engine that allowed simulating historical teams against modern teams. From the sight I found SLB and tinkered around there for awhile and was eventually recruited to HBD by a friend in a progressive league I was in--and got hooked quickly. Real life hit hard in 2008. I was away until 2014. Was surprised my account was still here. My favorite team/experience would have to be my one WS championship in Walter Johnson. The Indianapolis Brutality has made 5 WS in last 6 seasons. Trying to bring some of that magic to The Wet Sox here.

2/Sports. What are your favorite teams in the real world? Favorite players and/or sports memories? What drives you crazy about sports or sports culture?

   I'm a military brat and have moved all over, but have always followed Chicago teams, from my father's influence. My favorite player growing up was Walter Payton. Also a Big fan of Frank Thomas and Paul Konerko. My favorite sports memories include the '85 Bears Super Bowl and '05 White Sox World Series and any of the recent Blackhawks' Stanley Cups. On a more personal level, coaching my son's 10 year-old little league team to a championship, and watching him start at SS and lead off, as a walk on freshman in his first college game.

3/Music. What are the last three things you listened to? All-time three favorite artists? Best show you've seen?

   Like others here have stated, I have an eclectic taste in music, from big band, again from my father, to classic rock and modern music, influenced by 2 teenagers. I spend a lot of time on Alt Nation on SiriusXM. Most recently, Vampire Weekend, Fallout Boy, Adele. All time favorite artist is John Lennon. First show ever was Bob Seeger on the Silver Bullet Tour in 1978, my junior year in high school. Best ever show was U2 Joshua Tree tour in '87 at the Oakland Alameda Coliseum.

4/Aside from sports and music, what are your favorite hobbies, films, books, etc? What might surprise us about your interests?

   Photography, Big Movie fan. I watch just about everything, or at least give it a chance. Don't always make it through all of them though. I am interested in military history. I read a lot of biographies and autobiographies from military men and women, as well as military and political history. Growing up a military brat might have something to do with this. I still coach baseball. 16-19 year olds in our local Babe Ruth league. This will be the last year coaching my son.

5/Survival. Where are you from originally, and where are you living now? How do you pay your bills, assuming you do?

   After high school I was offered a baseball scholarship to Cal State Hayward,(now CS Eastbay), so I was gonna be a ballplayer (I was Catcher) . . . or so I thought. A month before reporting I tore my knee up(ACL) in a Legion game, first injury ever. Spent Fr. year rehabbing, at the beggining of So. Year tore the other one in practice(MCL and ACL), and I was done without ever playing a game. Finished  college and bopped around with a journalism/English degree until I hooked on with Kodak for 17 years as an OSHA compliance specialist. Ended up in HR in Chicago. Left there in '05 to start my own school picture business, took a hit in the economy crash and in '10 needing cash flow, took a part time job driving a taxi. After a couple of months of applying basic business principles I figured that you could make real money doing this. 6 years later I own 20 cabs with another on the way. If you'd have told me when I left Kodak I'd end up in the taxi business I would have looked at you screwy. Life takes some funny turns along the way. Pic is recent, me, with some of my cars.