Memories

What do you remember?

Way Back, Way Back!

“It could be, it might be, It is! A home run!” was a Harry Caray catch-phrase when calling a homer for the White Sox, and later, the Cubs. Anyone at Shepard during his era knows his “Holy cow!”

Then there was 1985. Da Bears win the Super Bowl. It seems like yesterday. Andy Frederick, Calvin Thomas, Dan Hampton, Dave Duerson, Dennis McKinnon, Emery Moorehead, Gary Fencik, Jay Hilgenberg, Jim Covert, Jim McMahon, Keith Van Horne, Kevin Butler, Leslie Frazier, Mark Bortz, Matt Suhey, Mike Tomczak, Mike Singletary, Otis Wilson, Richard Dent, Ron Rivera, Shaun Gayle, Steve McMichael, Tom Thayer, Walter Payton, Wilber Marshall, William Perry, Willie Gault. There’s da Coach himself, Mike Ditka.

The Bulls during the Michael Jordan era. Scottie Pippen, Dennis Rodman, Ron Harper, Bill Wennington, Steve Kerr, Luc Longley, Toni Kukoč, John Salley, Phil Jackson.

In the last 30 years, we final saw the Sox and Cubbies win the World Series. Not many wins overall, but a great history. Ryne Sandberg, Minnie Miñoso, Bill Madlock, Ron Santo, Bill Melton, Paul Konerko, Mark Buehrle, Frank Thomas, Mark Grace, Ferguson Jenkins, Dick Allen, Carlos May, Dave Kingman, Wilbur Wood, Rick Reuschel, Jim Kaat, Steve Stone, Bruce Sutter, Goose Gossage, Terry Forster. (We don’t consider Sammy Sosa one of the greats because, well, you know.)

Oh, and Steve Bartman. From all accounts, he’s a very decent guy, but there was that one thing. You know, with the ball and the glove and… seriously, the Cubbies lost on their own. Bad umping helped. Be good to Steve. If you see him, buy him a drink.

The Hawks brought home Lord Stanley’s Cup in 2010, 2013 and 2015 (I’m still working on a list of great players. Email your faves).

For you, life at Shepard might be filled with favorite songs, whether played by Illinois-based bands like REO Speedwagon or Styx, or the Chicago Symphony Orchestra. Prince, Michael Jackson, or Taylor Swift fill some playlists. Then there’s the Chicago blues like Buddy Guy, Koko Taylor, Muddy Waters, and Willie Dixon.

Movies – Star Wars, Rocky, Jaws, Close Encounters of the Third Kind, Avatar, and Titanic might be the movies you saw three times apiece.

Who was president while you were in school? What was the big news of the day? Who fascinated you in the Olympics?

photo: Harry Caray in the press box with President Ronald Reagan during a Chicago Cubs and Pittsburgh Pirates game at Wrigley Field in Chicago, Illinois on September 30, 1988.
Public domain: White House Photographic Collection, 1/20/1981 – 1/20/1989