There seem to be these rampant rumors that Johnny Goodtimes will be rapping in Sunday’s event. Nothing could be further from the truth. Johnny would never risk his sterling reputation as a gentleman by trying to perform that scandalous form of music. I’m ashamed of you for believing such vile rumors. Today’s Philadelphia Weekly (click there and scroll down) says that all scavenger hunt items need to be in by Thursday. Not anymore. I recently moved that back to Saturday at noon. Also, you can earn eight of the possible ten points simply by buying your tickets in advance. Finally, read more about Johnny (including a secret he’s been loathe to give away until now) on Inky writer Daniel Rubin’s blog.

For more info on Beat the Champs, click here.

One of the highlights of this job is the remarkably random emails I get from time to time. The following correspondance is one of my favorites. I think you might enjoy it too.

Hey Johnny-

If you ever need someone to sing acoustic versions of
Killdozer songs I can hook you up with Killdozer Jr
(acoustic). Killdozer Jr (acoustic)’s resume includes
playing while slightly drunk at open mic night, as
well as in the living room or basement. Although I’m
not sure Killdozer Jr (acoustic) will be available for
Beat the Champs, you may want to keep Killdozer Jr
(acoustic) on your short list of entertainers for
future reference.

Continue reading “Killdozer, Jr.” →

I’ve been on this planet for over 30 years, and I have never seen anything like this. Ever. Ever. I kind of hope I never see anything like it again. Thanks to Chet for sending this link. If you know any ridiculous links that you would like to share with the quizzo community, please send them to johnny@johnnygoodtimes.com, or just post them below.

What event of interest happened on August 23, 1305?

Just came across this and thought I’d share:
During an August 17, 1957 game, Richie Ashburn hit a foul ball into the stands and struck spectator Alice Roth, wife of Philadelphia Bulletin sports editor Earl Roth, breaking her nose. After play was resumed, Ashburn hit a ball which struck Roth again while she was being carried away in a stretcher.

Johnny Goodtimes is offering a $15 gift certificate to anyone who beats the living s*** out of Pat Robertson. This messenger of God is calling on America to assassinate the president of Venezuela because he doesn’t agree with our policies. Christians wonder why so many people are leaving the church, and why we are becoming a godless nation. I wonder if it has anything to do with the fact that every time I hear a “Christian leader” speak on tv, he sounds like a bigot out of 1960’s Mississippi or just a completely clueless idiot (or, in the case of Pat Robertson, both)? Yes, Chavez is a polarizing figure, and has done business with Castro and China. He’s also instituted free health care for his nations poor and instituted major literacy and education programs. Robertson calls him a dictator. He’s not a dictator. He is the president of Venezuela, elected by popular vote and he survived a recall vote. Below is a list of some of my favorite Pat Robertson quotes. Enjoy!
(P.S. I’m not really giving away a $15 gift certificate to anyone who gives Pat Robertson a beat down. Let’s make it a $20 gift certificate.)

Continue reading “Can someone take out Pat Robertson?” →

My boy Larry Platt is in today’s Inky for defending Philly cheesesteaks. The Philadelphia magaizne editor is one of those nitwits that seems to think that all we do here in Center City is eat cheesesteaks for lunch and Stephen Starr for dinner (there is a story about one or the other in every single freaking issue they ever do.) Anyway’s here’s his thing.:

The Aug. 1 issue of New York Magazine chronicled New York City’s recent cheesesteak boom, partly spurred by the arrival of Tony Luke’s. Them’s fighting words to Philadelphia Magazine editor Larry Platt, who shot off a missive to NY editor Adam Moss.

Platt thinks New Yorkers don’t know Whiz from shinola. “The words New York and cheesesteak together are oxymoronic, not unlike military intelligence. As a native Philadelphian, I’ve grown up with the cheesesteak. The cheesesteak is a friend of mine. Adam, New Yorkers know nothing about cheesesteaks. Consider this letter a declaration of a culinary fatwah: When it comes to gooey artery-cloggers on soft rolls, you need to back off.”

Last Tuesday, Platt dispatched staffers Richard Rys and Andrew Putz, both of whom rated cheesesteaks in Philly Mag articles, to retrace New York Mag’s steps for October’s Philly Mag.

Moss – an old pal of Platt’s, we’ll add – declined comment.

Hey, I’m sending birthday shout outs to two musicians I thoroughly enjoy. The first is John Lee Hooker. If you have not heard him, I highly encourage you to do so. His blues are unlike anybody else’s I’ve heard. Real raw, with little to no rhyme structure. But a great storyteller. Check out “I Cover the Waterfront,” “Tupelo”, and “I’m Bad Like Jesse James.” He was born on this date in 1917. Secondly, GZA of the Wu-Tang Clan turns 39 today. Now, I’m more about the RZA than I am the GZA, but the Genius ain’t bad. Here he discusses his chess game.