Kodak Moments From "The Shield On The Field"...

Thanks to everyone who came out to our Celebrity softball game on Saturday, to kick-off the celebration of the 25th annual Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club Radiothon coming up in February!  I captained and pitched for the “Red Team” over the Mark Ridley captained “Blue Team”.  We won 20 to 11 in a real pitcher’s duel! Check out the pictures below for some highlights!  

I’m the one with the bat!

This is my famous split-finger spit ball…

Martha Reeves, who sang the National Anthem, Major Mark Anderson of the Salvation Army and an unidentified “celebrity” player.

Former Tiger Ike Blessitt lifting the MVP of the game, with the help of Detroit Lion Hall-of-Famer Lem Barney and Jack Aronson owner of “Garden Fresh Salsa”. (Notice how Lem demonstrates his famous “crotch hold”!)

A shot of my team from the best angle…

Paul McCartney Walks Down "Long And Winding Aisle"

Paul McCartney got married for the third time Sunday, this time to American heiress Nancy Shevell.  It was a modest ceremony at the same London register office where he married his first wife, Linda.  His second marriage, to Heather Mills, was at a lavish ceremoney in Ireland that was estimated to cost $3 million.  Four years later, thier divorce cost Paul another $38 million.  Tabloids claimed that Paul wrote a special song for his new bride and planned to debut it at the reception.  

- It’s titled: “When I’m 84”. 

- The new Mrs. McCartney is a mega-millionaire in her own right, so Paul figures she’s already got a leg up on Heather. 

- Paul is 69, while Nancy is 51.  She registered for china and he registered for Viagra.  

- After an extended honeymoon, Paul plans on a series of concerts he’s dubbed “The Lipi-Tour”.  

- The only other Beatle who’s still alive was part of this ceremony.  He was the “Ringo” bearer.  

They Is Really Good At Math!

Two Americans have been awarded the 2011 Nobel Prize… for Economics.  

- Apparently just beating out two Economists from Greece.  

Today's Almanac... (Sort Of)

We’re celebrating Columbus Day today, even though the officially designated day is October 12th.  It’s also Thanksgiving Day in Canada.  

- Ironically while the Canadians are carving the traditional Canadian Goose… we in the States will be commemorating the day Christopher Columbus goosed Pocahontas! 

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here Tuesday!

-Dick

Purtan Podcast #12 - TIGERS WIN! Plus A Potpourri Of Info-tainment And A Very Special Pre-Announcement!

It’s Friday… And not just any Friday, the one after the Tiger’s took down the Yankees in a dramatic 3-2 win at Yankee Stadium last night.  Now it’s on to Texas!  Game one Saturday night! 

In today’s Podcast we talk to Tiger Manager Jim Leyland (a la Big Al) along with a full line-up of other big names including the Queen of England, Rush Limbaugh, and even Jack Stewart who shares his feelings about DWTS and Glee, and catches us up on the state of his synchronized swim team.  Plus, I’ll tell you which Hollywood actor has his movies boycotted more than any other because of his personal political beliefs.  Ready for more?  

I’ll also reveal a “secret” if you will - something I’ve been working on that I hope will make your holiday shopping a little easier…

And now, as the waiters and waitresses always say… Enjoy!

Purtan Podcast #12: 10/7/10    (24min. 47sec.)

“Oh yeah! On to Texas!”

“Is that a dozen hummingbirds in your pants or are you just happy to see me?”

It's Do Or Die In NYC!

Go Tigers!  8:07pm. TBS.  

And just a reminder… Celebrity softball game noon Saturday at Clark Park on Clark Street (near the Ambassador Bridge) to kick off the 25th anniversary celebration of next February’s Salvation Army Bed and Bread Club Radiothon on WJR!  No charge for admission — plus free hot dogs and drinks, face painting and a bounce house!  I’ll be pitching… They used to call me “No-Hit Dick”, only problem was, I was a third baseman at the time!  Hope to see you there!

RIP...

Steve Jobs, the man who co-founded Apple Computers and gave the world such innovative products as the iMac, iPhone, iPad, iTouch, iTunes and so much more passed away yesterday following a long battle with pancreatic cancer.  His creativity and passion literally changed the way the world operates. He was just 56.Wanna Bring Steve Jobs Back To Life? I Wish There Was An App For That…

Palin Bailin' On Run For Prez!

Yesterday, Sarah Palin dashed the hopes of some conservatives by announcing that she will not run for President in 2012.  Palin said her priorities are God, family and country, in that order, and she has to put her family first. (???) She says she believes that she’ll be more effective in stopping Obama’s “fundamental transformation” of America as an outsider and media commentator than if she ran for President. 

- Besides, Election Day falls right in the middle of moose hunting season. 

- This way, she’ll have more time to spend with her kids in Alaska, hanging out on the front porch looking at Russia. 

Almond Boneless Girlfriend!

China has a shortage of women, and men are under heavy presure both to work hard and to get get married. It’s especially tough during the Spring Festival, when sons are expected to bring their girlfriends home to meet their parents.  Thus the new industry: “Girlfriends for Hire”.  Young women are putting ads on the Internet offering to pose as a man’s girlfriend during the festival to get his parents off his back.  

- Why pay for a fake girlfriend?  Why not just ask one of your fake facebook friends to do it?  

- Finally the women won’t have to feel bad about faking anything, because they’re faking everything! 

One young man has also placed an ad offering $878 (US) to pretend to be his girlfriend for five days.  He’s received about 400 applications so far.  But he’s picky.  He says his fake girlfriend must have certain qualities including “a kind heart, high level of personal integrity, and good comunication skills.”

- And, of course, really big fake boobs.  

- Big Al had a fake girlfriend for 15 years on our radio show.  He met her at a Star Trek convention.

Price Of Free Coffee Goes Up!

Two former film students who worked as unpaid interns on the movie “Black Swan” have filed a federal lawsuit against the movie studio that they’re trying to turn into a class action suit.  The intern system is supposed to trade unpaid work for experience in the movie business.  The ex-interns claim “Black Swan” made over $300 million so they could have paid people to do the menial work. They claim they had to make coffee, get lunch, empty trash cans and clean the offices for free, and they learned nothing about the movie business. 

- In my 45 years in Detroit radio, I had hundreds and hundreds of unpaid interns.  If these guys win their lawsuit… I’m in big trouble!

- Monica Lewinsky is now claiming that she was forced to deliver pizza to the Oval Office for free and learned nothing about being President.   

Johnny Depp Admits He Stole Pirate Treasure!

Johnny Depp admitted that he was overpaid when he made $300 million for the “Pirates of the Carribean” movies, but says he has to secure his kids’ futures, so he didn’t turn it down.  His statement prompted a blog contributor to suggest that since liberal Hollywood stars are so opposed to overpaid corportate CEOs, maybe Hollywood should adopt a policy that no star is paid more than 10 times what the lowest paid-intern makes.

- If this goes through, when actors say, “I don’t do it for the money… I do it for my craft”, they’ll be talking about the “Kraft Macaroni & Cheese” they’ll be reduced to living on.    

- The only Hollywood stars I believe may actually need $300 million to “secure their kids futures” are Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie. 

Today's Almanac

On this day in 1927, “The Jazz Singer” starring Al Jolson debuted, ending the era of silent movies. 

- One critic said the movie left him “speechless”.  

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here Friday for our brand-spankin’ new Podcast! 

-Dick 

And Go Tigers!!!!!!!

Tigers' Roar Muffled... Meanwhile I Take To The Mound!

So after the Tigers 10-1 loss to the Yankees, the series is tied at two a piece and that means Thurday is do or die night in New York. Hopefully the Tigers will get their game back!

Speaking of baseball, I’m pitching in a Celebrity Charity softball game this Saturday, October 8th at noon.  The game will kick-off the upcoming 25th Anniversary Radiothon Celebration for the Salvation Army Bed & Bread Club, that I founded and proudly hosted for 23 years. This year, I’ll be guest hosting the Radiothon on 760 WJR-AM on Friday, February 24th, 2012.  As for this Saturday’s game… it will be held at Clark Park at 1130 Clark Street, near the Ambassador Bridge.  They’ll be hot dogs, pop, facepainting and even a bounce house — and it’s ALL FREE! 

The weather’s supposed to be great, so grab a lawn chair and come join us! 

- Dick Verlander

No Means No... Really... Seriously...

Despite months of denials, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie kept being mentioned as a Presidential Candidate. But yesterday, he held a press conference and said he is absolutely NOT running for President.  This means that the GOP field is likely set, unless Sarah Palin makes an unlikely run.  One GOP strategist said with Christie out, Repubicans can finally focus on the economy and stop dreaming of some perfect candidate who’ll come in on a flying carpet.  

- Being the big boy that he is, Christie would probably need an extra large industrial strength throw rug.  

- Empire Carpet volunteered to bring in a candidate and have him installed the very next day!

If Granny's Chairs A Rockin', Don't Come A Knockin'!

Clare Ormiston of England recently turned 100, so her family asked what special thing she wanted for her party. They suggested a string quartet but Clare had another idea:  she wanted a male stripper.  They thought she was joking but she said, “You think I’m old don’t you?  But I’m just coming out.” So last Friday they hired a stripper named Scorpion to go to her nursing home and peel down to a G-string. Clare said, “I enjoyed that. It definitely put a smile on my face.”

- Unfortunately it also put a clot in her left ventricle. 

- “Scorpion” said the hardest part was when she kept insisting on putting pennies in his G-string.

- It runs in the family…  when her late husband turned 90, he got a “Gramp Stamp”.

Newsflash: Snake Eyes Could Get You Big Boobs!

The Trump Taj Mahal Casino in Atlantic City is holding a contest drawing at the end of October to win $25,000 worth of plastic surgery.  The contest had drawn criticism, but a spokeswoman for Trump Entertainment said the winner can opt to take the prize in cash instead.  

- Thousands of men all over New Jersey are suddenly encouraging their wives to take up gambling.  

- With $25 grand… you can get a plastic surgeon who will give you the “Best of the Breast!”

- They’re filming a new movie about the event called “Ocean’s 36DD” 

"Ay Caramba!" Are The Simpson's History?

“The Simpons” is the longest-running primetime comedy in history, but it’s 23rd season could be it’s last. With the major voice actors each making $8 million a year, Fox told ‘em they can’t afford to keep making the show unless they agree to a 45% paycut.  The cast reportedly offered to take a 30% cut in exchange for a piece of the mechandising pie, but Fox refused. 

- They’re cartoons.  Can’t Fox just erase them? 

- $8 million dollars a year is a lot of “D’oh!”

- Just what we need in this country… more “Homer-less” people. 

Today's Almanac

On this day in 1962, the Beatles’s first hit, “Love Me Do,” was released in England. 

- During their contract negotiations the Simpson character voice actors are singing “Love Me D’oh!”

Have a great day and I’ll see you back here Thursday!

-Dick

Two Down... One To Go!

The Tigers go for win number 3 against the Yankees tonight!  If they succeed, they’ll send the Bombers back to the Bronx! Opening pitch: 8:37! btw… even though Valverde’s prediction of a Tiger victory last night did come true, please… no more goading the Yankees!

He Shoulda Called Sam!!!

Umar Farouk Abdulmutallab, who became know as the Underwear Bomber when he allegedly tried to detonate a bomb in his underpants on a crowded flight over Detroit on Christmas, goes on trial today. The prosecutors and defense will have a chance to question more than 200 potential jurors.  BTW… Umar is representing himself and is expected to use the platform to denounce America.

- Ya think?  

- Let’s hope he does as good a job defending himself as he did igniting the bomb in his pants. 

- If things don’t go his way, he going to switch from Jockey’s to Depends. 

- He’ll be the only “attorney” in the courtroom who actually carries his briefs in his briefs.