Mike Ditka doesn’t know what the Puppy Bowl is
Plus: Chicago doesn’t “get” Liz Phair; a Dallas newspaper thinks Steve Albini is going to die
Bowl artwork from a few years back
Since sifting through dull newspapers, hyperbolic blogs, and overflowing RSS feeds for meaningful news can be an arduous process, News Net catches and compiles both the amusing and the significant reports that were overlooked throughout the workweek. Here are some things to think about as the weekend begins.
• OMFG, Mike Ditka doesn’t know what the Puppy Bowl is. At least, that’s what he told Vanity Fair magazine this week. This is absolutely shocking for no reason at all, because why would Mike Ditka be 1. reading blogs; 2. watching Animal Planet during the Super Bowl; or 3. willing to admit to loving wiggly puppies. Another deep revelation from the interview: Ditka doesn’t really like drugs.
• In vaguely related news, a random eBay user sold a hot dog from the Packers/Bears NFC Championship game online this week. The uneaten wiener, complete with ketchup, mustard, and relish packets, went for $26.53.
• The Dallas Observer published its speculations on “Which Musicians Will Die in 2011” this week. It was, of course, totally tasteless and morally bankrupt, but the weekly paper put the odds of Steve Albini’s imminent demise at 35:1. The reasoning—something about how he spoke somewhere that Harvey Pekar spoke—is sketchy, at best, and we here at The A.V. Club wish Albini nothing but the best.
• Liz Phair took BlackBook on a tour of ol’ Wicker Park. In the article, she reminisces about the Rainbo, Urge Overkill, and a couple of her neighborhood apartments. She also, of course, talks about how no one gets her, especially in Chicago. Oh, Liz.
• Project Runway’s Tim Gunn was stuck in the snow this week right along with the rest of us. The man with the suit and plan was in town working on some new makeover show for Oprah’s network.
• Speaking of Oprah, her boy designer Nate Berkus is selling his Gold Coast apartment, most likely to move to New York full time.
• The Reader reported on The New York Times’ continual mistakes in its Chicago-related fact-checking, both in the past and in more recent articles. Dang, Gray Lady, for real.
• In horrible news, South Side institution Army & Lou’s has closed. The soul food restaurant had been open for over 60 years.
