Much like an eclipse, once a year, the great American legend–Jim Rhodes–calls me with a story.  He lives a pretty quiet life most of the time, but every so often, something fun happens.  Then he knows who to call.  So, last night, Big Jim calls me from Chicago.  He was just leaving the Billy Goat Tavern and Grill.  Knowing Jim, he was there for the grill part.  Me, it would have been for both.  If you don’t know about the Billy Goat Tavern and Grill, it was owned by the guy that had the pet goat that was not allowed in Wrigley Field at a Cubs game.  The goat/tavern owner put a curse on the Cubs that they would not win a world series.  Guess what?  They still haven’t won anything.  The curse lives on and all because a guy wanted to take his pet goat to the game.

     The other claim to fame of the Billy Goat Tavern and Grill is that Saturday Night Live did skits of this place back in the late seventies with John Belushi, Dan Akroyd and Bill Murray performing.  “Cheezborger! Cheezborge! No fries–CHEEPS!”  You know you’ve made it when Belushi, Akroyd and Murray are imitating you.

     There I was.  Stuck at home on a monday night in 20 degree weather.  Well behaved.  And Big Jim calls me up with a story.  If only I could have been there too.  Then, we could have added some events to this story.