Stupid groundhog

Friday, Feb, 1 2013

Groundhog Day falls on a Saturday this year, so today on the PhilCast I'll have to play some traditional audio...at least the crowd chants 'Phil' in P.A.

I believe the little guy is going to see his shadow tomorrow, meaning six more weeks of winter. Isn't that usually the case around here regardless?

posted by: Phil Cianciola 14 month(s) ago

I almost got Donald Driver's winter coat

Thursday, Jan, 31 2013

The big news of Thursday came early in the morning. A tweet from #80. An interview on a national radio show...he's retiring and there is going to be a big Lambeau party for him next week.

It's a move I think we all saw coming, yet not unlike when an elderly and failing relative dies, it's still hard to swallow when it happens no matter how expected it was.

"Double D" says it's time and that he, unlike certain other famous former players, will NOT be changing his mind about this move. It's a decision he said was a very tough one.

Selfishly, I think it's the right one too. I say that because as for me myself as a huge NFL fan, I don't think I could handle another Favre situation in this case. Seeing Donald Driver in a Chicago Bears or Minnesota Vikings uniform on the field would make me physically ill. So I'm glad he retires in Green & Gold!

Years back in another radio life I remember first meeting Donald when he would come to the studio to be interviewed for his weekly show. I've met many pro athletes over the course of my 30+ years in broadcasting and only a handful have made a real impression on me. Donald is one of them. Very few take the time to listen to your answer when they say "How ya doin'?" Donald always did. He seemed as genuine as they come.

And about that winter jacket?

One season the Packers had really cool-looking long white down-type winter coats on the sidelines with a simple "G" logo on them that really popped on those long quilt-like coats. I asked him in the studio...."Hey Donald, I love those new sideline winter coats you have. Can I have yours when you're done with it?"

I figured why not ask? Who knows...maybe he'd go for it and I'd have the most awesome Packers' item ever.

He actually laughed and said, "Phil I'd give it to you but it's not ours. We have to give all that stuff back to the team at the end of the season."

Drat.

And kudos to PhilCast friend Frank Caliendo on Donald's introduction on the Mike & Mike show today....Frank did it in his classic Madden voice. I'll play it on the PhilCast this afternoon.

DD....awesome career. And his retirement announcement today only solidifies my gripe from Pack Yak about the last game this season....Donald should have been put into the game on that last drive out of nothing more than respect for one of the greatest.

Donald--Frank--Victor Cruz in New Orleans

posted by: Phil Cianciola 14 month(s) ago

Time to 'Weigh-In Wednesday"

Wednesday, Jan, 30 2013

Well, there she is...
The first new scale I've purchased in over 30 years!

Yup, I'm digital now for "Weigh-In-Wednesday's on the PhilCast.

Today will mark the first time I'm using it for my report on the show.

Please email me your report if you are playing along at home and we'll discuss at the start of the show today.

Related to the 'healthier eating' topic I also have a story about snacks for the Super Bowl game on Sunday evening.

And we'll also talk Dutch food today....I'll be needing someone who is Dutch to call me on the phone and play along as we talk about foods of the Dutch.

People in the news today include one of my favorite couples....

Say it ain't so.

Dario and Ashley are calling it quits. I've met them both at the race track when Dario drives an Indy car at the Milwaukee Mile.

Barbra, George and Roseanne are also part of my people in the news segment today on the PhilCast.

posted by: Phil Cianciola 14 month(s) ago

Neither rain nor sleet nor...

Tuesday, Jan, 29 2013

Some things seem to take a lot of time to change, even though it seems obvious that a change is inevitable.

Such is the case I think with 'snail mail', you know, that old-fashioned way of getting junk mail that was around long before email spam?

Today on the PhilCast one of my stories will be about changes in mail delivery.

New Zealand is currently considering cutting back from six days to only three days of mail delivery.

I myself can't figure out why we here in America haven't already at least cut Saturday delivery. I mean who needs to see bills on a weekend?

But only three days? Would that fly with you? We'll discuss this afternoon.

posted by: Phil Cianciola 14 month(s) ago

It's an umbrella that looks like a gun

Monday, Jan, 28 2013

Who came up with this brilliant idea?

Behold the "Gunbrella"

It's an umbrella that looks like an assault rifle when not raining.

The company making them in Canada is calling it quits after taking heat from authorities there. Seems officers were ready to shoot a guy with one of these at a bus stop.

Can't say I blame them. Duh.

That story plus I've got a couple of good nuggets from my weekend, including a brazen act at the mall that involved me calling for security immediately.

Anybody go see the "Around The Corner" premier in Neenah Sunday? If so I'd like to hear from you on the show today about how it went.

"Howz Yer Weekend?" leads things off today on the PhilCast.