Toronto Mike'd: The Official Toronto Mike Podcast - June 2023 Memorial Episode: Toronto Mike'd #1284

Episode Date: July 1, 2023

In this 1284th episode of Toronto Mike'd, Mike pays tribute to those we lost in June 2023. Toronto Mike'd is proudly brought to you by Great Lakes Brewery, Palma Pasta, The Moment Lab, Ridley Funeral Home and Electronic Products Recycling Association.

are dead or never dead to us until we have forgotten them as always i open this episode with that quote from george elliott because i believe it to be true. By remembering those who have passed, we give them life. Let's remember those we lost in June 2023. This memorial episode of Toronto Mic'd is brought to you by Ridley Funeral Home, pillars of this community since 1921. This community is where we're from, Bill. Maybe it's not. Pillars of this community since 1921. intercourse. You don't have to do that. You say that on the radio? She is saying it. Come on, phone her. She's talking to somebody else.

You have lots of blood. They'll put you on more. More on call. You asked. No, wait. It's your question fine when the time comes what if somebody recognizes my voice what does he recognize your voice melanie they listen to the show hi this is the sex show i'm on i'm on hello do you have a question hello no i've got a friend who's 12 years old he gets a lot of wet dreams is he a a pervert? I'm not a pervert. Your chicken is what you are.

Well, you're a brood. I'm a brood. Oh, yeah. Wet dreams are very common for young guys. It's one of the first indications of puberty. So tell your friend he's perfectly okay. He's not a pervert. He's not an animal out of control.

Wet dreams are the body's way of relieving sexual tension and sexual pressure. I want to ask you about another great woman, and I'm hoping you'll spend some time telling me about her because I believe you guys are friends. But I'm going to play a clip from her. This is somebody I think will be in the news quite a bit shortly. Let's listen to this familiar voice. Jane Haughton literally took me off the streets. Way back in

1984, I was running a birth control clinic for kids and I was tramping around Toronto teaching sex and sexuality. And Jane asked me to do an interview on a rock radio station program she was doing called Barometer. Of course, I accepted and we did the interview. She was marvelous. I was so impressed with her. And so she became

my mentor. But we also became friends. That is Sue Johansson from Sex with Sue. That's right. Okay, that's a big... Listen, you're talking to a bunch of Gen Xers right now. Not everyone listening is a Gen Xer, but this is sort of the core.

And we listened to Sex with Sue on Q107, and we saw Sue Johansson on Degrassi, the OG Degrassi, the one that we all grew up with, Joey and Joey Jeremiah and the zit remedy. So this is a big deal. And my first question is, how is Sue doing these days? I think she has kind of stepped out of the limelight. I know I was interviewed just recently for a documentary they're doing about her.

Yes, I got followed by a Twitter account for that documentary. So yes, there's something coming down the pipes. Yeah, so I was interviewed for that documentary, which, you know, she ended up being so huge, being on Oprah Winfrey's network and the kind of people that she was, all the late night talk show hosts in the States and all of that. So she became quite huge, yeah.

And you got her start in media. It sounds like she says she was on the streets an advocate for safe sex and all this and then you put her on barometer and the rest is history. Well, that's the way it worked. But is she, I mean, you don't have

to obviously if it's personal you don't have to say anything but she is out of the limelight but she's still with us, everybody. There's no shout out to Ridley Funeral Home here. No. But do you talk to her? Sue, don't worry. There's no shout out to Ridley Funeral Home if you're listening.

No, I haven't talked to her in several years. Okay, several years. I haven't seen her in several years since she got really big and was doing stuff in the States and everything. But, you know, I love her. And it was because she got in trouble for handing out condoms at York Mills Collegiate. And that's how she came to my attention. And because on Fridays on Barometer, I was doing sex every Friday, much to my mother's horror.

And so that's where she was discovered it was like oh she's great this is this is someone who needs to have her own show and you were right i guess so i had the air of gary slate and said that's what this is good oh no i used to listen so i know i think it was cftr was airing like a syndicated show from dr ruth westheimer. And I didn't like it because of how much more real and raw and more authentic the Sue Johansson Sex of Sue show was on Q107. Absolutely. It was night and day to me.

Yeah, absolutely. And she just spoke so plainly, and I think that's why it worked so well. And it was a time when, you know, the AIDS crisis was happening, and we needed someone like her to be talking about sexuality and safe sex and all of those things that were so important to that audience at the time. Well, when I see this documentary, I'll be looking for FOTM Jane Hodden.

There you go. That was my conversation with FOTM Jane Hodden, episode 1119 of Toronto Mic'd, recorded in September 2022. We, of course, were talking about the legend that was Sue Johansson. As a teenager, I'd listen to Sue Johansson Sunday nights on Q107. This is before she became a TV star. As you heard, you can thank Jane Hodden for Sue Johansson becoming a radio star. Eventually, Sue would be on Degrassi, as you heard, and then the U.S. found out we had this treasure here in the Great White North, and they wanted a piece of her.

Sue Johansson died in Thornhill on June 28, 2023. She was 93 years old. Sex with Sue was everything for a Generation X-er growing up in this country. Thank you, Sue. Is that my piss helmet? No. Where's my helmet i don't see why people don't let my things alone dear dear now i remember

now i remember somebody stepped on my piss helmet Now I remember. Somebody stepped on my pith helmet. It's all ruined. Look what somebody did. What somebody left it out here on the patio. I did so I'd be ready for our hike this morning. Then don't blame someone else. It was up to you where you left it. So it's your own fault you got a flat hat.

There, almost as good as new. I hope you find lots of fine rocks today and find a smile. Why was I watching Davy and Goliath on Sunday mornings? In hindsight, it was an uber-Christian propaganda machine. But I didn't know any better, and it was the best thing on. And besides, Commander Tom was presenting it. Thater GTA kids will remember Commander Tom from weeknights, but if you're my age, you remember Commander Tom from Sunday mornings. You had three options on a Sunday morning back in the 80s. You could watch religious programming. No thank you.

You could watch news programming. No thank you. Or you could watch Commander Tom. That's where I could be found on Sunday mornings. Commander Tom was WKBW weatherman Tom Joles. And he was Commander Tom in Buffalo from 1965 until 1993. Commander Tom died at his New York home on June 7, 2023.

He was 89 years old. I did my best But I guess my best wasn't good enough Cause here we are back where we were before Seems nothing ever changes We're back to being strangers Wondering if we ought to stay Or head on out the door

Just once Can we figure out what we keep doing wrong? Why we never last for very long? What are we doing wrong? Just once, can we find a way to finally make it right? To make the magic last for more than just one night We could just get to it I know we could break through it

Along with her husband, Barry Mann, Cynthia Wheel wrote a number of songs you know and love, from You've Lost That Loving Feeling to We Gotta Get Out of This Place. Seriously, the list of songs this woman wrote, either with Barry Mann or by herself, is incredible. Walking in the Rain by the Ronettes. Somewhere Out There by Linda Ronstadt and James Ingram.

Through the Fire by Chaka Khan. He's So Shy by the Pointer Sisters, and this jam you're listening to right now. Just Once, Quincy Jones featuring the late, great James Ingram. Wow.

Where are we going wrong? Just once, Wow. I know we could break through it If we could just get through it just once I want to understand Why it always comes back to goodbye Why can't we get ourselves in hand And admit to one another We're no good without each other Take the best and make it better Find a way to stay together

Just once Can we find a way to finally make it right make the magic last for more than just one night oh we could break through it if we could just get through it just once.

We can get to it just once. Just once Cynthia passed away at her home in Beverly Hills, California on June 1st, 2023. She was 82 years old. I'm out. Bottle, silver, bottle, silver, fucking silver, bottle, Bottle, silver, bottle, silver, fucking silver, bottle, Bottle, silver, bottle, silver, fucking silver, bottle, Bottle, silver, bottle, silver, bottle, Bottle, silver, bottle, silver, bottle,

Bottle, silver, bottle,alsa, wow, hey bud! Never walked inside a ramp in his way One of those fabulous old men said I ain't gonna make it but I'll see about 40 kids And go ahead, oh yeah, and go ahead again Balsa, balsa, balsa, wow, hey bud! Never walked inside a ramp in his way Balsa, wow, balsa, wow, hey bud We love a white lady, but I'm mad at the face And I'm talking up to me, and even talking like I listen Say, hey, sunny boy, give me two peeps

I said, mother, you rich, I don't know what I'm gonna do Balsa, wow, balsa, balsa, wow, hey bud Love it when my teeth are done, what's all the fun Hey, but what the fuck? We don't like it because you are a slut. This is Butthole Surfers with the song Butthole Surfer. If you only know Pepper, go back and listen to early But Whole Surfers. This album is called Psychic, Powerless, Another Man's Sack. And the drummer on this album is Teresa Taylor, also known as Teresa Nervosa.

Teresa was long gone by the time Pepper hit, but she only left the band because she was diagnosed with an aneurysm and subsequently underwent brain surgery. Teresa announced in November 2021 that she had been diagnosed with end-stage lung disease and she passed away on June 18, 2023. She was only 60 years old. And my distinguished guest from the Middle East is from Persia, from Iran. He is Sheikha Lahani, Khosrow Vasari, the Iron Sheik. Anybody that knows wrestling knows that it's synonymous with the Iron Sheik.

Welcome back to the beautiful South Florida area here in Miami. Thank you very much, Gene. back to the beautiful South Florida area here in Miami. Thank you very much, Gene. Mean, intelligent American, intelligent Miami city, all American resting city, people like you always tell the music. Welcome to the Miami. Now, I love the songs.

Young, punk American come to the WWF, toughest, roughest area in the world, and he beat bunch of American, and he make a name for himself you know who I'm talking about exactly exactly now Miami all intelligent American Italian my bonzone Iranian all Jewish people intelligent you like yourself they know about the Aron Sheik. They know who's the Aron Sheik. They have the, from John F. Kennedy Airport to the Los Angeles, California, they know who's the Aron Sheik. Now, Corporal Kirchner.

Corporal Kirchner. Forever. Last time you was lucky, that blonde was your partner. Danny Sivey. Exactly. This time, just you and I. Precisuvazaki. That blonde was your partner. Danny Sivey. Exactly. This time, just you and I. Precisely. Exactly.

You better get ready, because she's born ready. Cameraman, zoom. Zoom it. Thank you. Miami's Night Center, Monday, April 28th. The Iron Sheik was the former WWF World Heavyweight Champion who had a memorable rivalry with Hulk Hogan and won the WWF Tag Team Championship with Nikolai Volkov at the inaugural WrestleMania event.

WrestleMania event. This, my friends, the mid-80s is when I was all about WWF wrestling. The Iron Sheik died at his home in Fayetteville, Georgia on June 7,

2023. My condolences to FOTM Hall of Famer Stu Stone. Those nominated for the best performance by an actress are Ellen Burstyn for The Exorcist. Glenda Jackson for A Touch of Class. Marsha Mason for Cinderella Liberty.

Barbara Streisand, for The Way We Were. Joanne Woodward, for Summer Wishes, Winter Dreams. Here is the envelope. Here is the envelope. And the winner is Glenda Jackson. Accepting the Best Actress Award for Glenda Jackson, the producer of A Touch of Class, Mr. Melvin Frank. Congratulations. Congratulations.

I'm very, very honored that Glenda has asked me to accept this award for her. You have honored a very great lady as well as a very great actress. And I know she'd be aware of our time problems here tonight. I know she'd be very short and succinct in whatever thanks she has. I'm pretty sure she'd thank her director. She'd probably thank her producer. And she'd undoubtedly thank her writers. And as two and a half of those fellows, I'd like to say, Glenda, you're welcome. And you're very welcome indeed, and I must congratulate you, my fellow Academy Award members,

in selecting this really magnificent woman, this great lady, for this very great honor. Thank you very much. Blenda Jackson was the actress who won two Academy Awards, three Emmy Awards, and a Tony Award. She was also elected as the Labour Party MP for Hampstead and Highgate in the 1992 United Kingdom general election. She passed away in her home in South East London on June 15, 2023.

She was 87 years old. What the hell are you waiting on? Get that web you're on. I want that brain bucket on your head. I want that double bucket on your head! I want that double bag on the red line! Soldiers, there's a war on! Come on, guys, move! Hurry up! Now listen up. When I call your name, I want you to sound off smartly,

move out, and get on that dusting hand. Carpos. Yes, sir. Sumner. Yes, sir. Peterson. Yes, sir. Brooke.

Yes, sir. Lukowski.kowski. Rutkowski. Rutkowski. You better get your head out of your ass. Let's go. This way, soldier. Let's go.

Move up. You better move, soldier! Hey, where are you going? Hey, what's the matter with you? I said put your dungle bag on the left truck! The vehicle's right there! Come on, let's go! Get it on there! On it!

Now! Let's get up! We start to look at one another short of breath Walking proudly in our winter coats Wearing smells from laboratories Facing a dying nation Of moving paper fantasies Listening for the new told lies With supreme visions of lonely tears Somewhere inside something there is a rush of

Greatness who knows what stands in front of our lives. I fashion my future on films in space. Silence tells me secretly everything. Everything. Everything Manchester, England, England

Manchester, England, England Across the Atlantic Sea. And I'm a genius, genius. I believe in God. And I believe that God believes in me. That's me. That's me. that's me, that's me As we saw the look at one another's shoulders

Walking proudly in our winter coats Wearing smells from laboratories Facing a dying nation A moving paper fantasy Listening for the new town lights With supreme visions of lonely tunes Singing our spring songs on a spider web sitar Life is around you and in you Answer for Timothy, leery, deery

Let the sun shine in, the sun shine in. Let the sun shine. Let the sun shine in, the sun shine in Why don't you let the sun shine Just let the sun shine in, the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in.

Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in. Let the sun shine in, the sun shine in Let the sun shine

Let the sun shine in, the sun shine in Санкт-Петербург And the sun's shining, the sun's shining. Now that's a jam, isn't it? That is Treat Williams in hair. And that might be where you first saw Treat Williams. But it wasn't the last time you saw him because he appeared in over 120 things. He was just all over the place. You might have seen him more recently as the star of Everwood.

Sadly, on June 12, 2023, Treat was involved in a motorcycle crash and died. He was only 71 years old. Ela, menina que vem e que passa Um doce balanço, caminho do mar Moça do corpo dourado, do sol de Ipanema O seu balançado é mais que um poema É a coisa mais linda que eu já vi passar Ah, por que estou tão sozinho? Ah, por que tudo é tão triste? Ah, a beleza que existe A beleza que existe, a beleza que não é só minha, que também passa sozinha. Ah, se ela soubesse que quando ela passa, o mundo sorrindo se enche de graça, e fica mais lindo por causa do amor

Tall and thin and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema goes walking and when she passes, each one she passes goes Ah... When she walks she's like a samba that swings so cool and sways so gently That when she passes each one, she passes close Oh, but he watches her sadly How can he tell her he loves her? Yes, he would give his heart gladly

But each day when she walks to the sea She looks straight ahead, not at he Tall and tan and young and lovely The girl from Ipanema goes walking And when she passes he smiles but she doesn't see This is the lovely The Girl from Ipanema from American saxophonist Stan Getz and Brazilian guitarist Joao Gilberto.

That woman bossa nova singer you hear is Astrid Gilberto. And sadly, Astrid died on June 5th, 2023, at the age of 83. She recorded songs in Portuguese, English, Spanish, Italian, French, German, and Japanese. Thank you. I'm a bad person Oh, but you see her so sadly Oh, and you thought you lost her Yeah, she would give his heart gladly But it's not when she walks to the sea She looks straight ahead, not at me

Oh, and then, and then, in love with a girl from E By name I was walking And when she passes, she smiles but she doesn't see. She just doesn't see. She doesn't see. But she doesn't see. Alright, Pat, are we over this?

Will you stop it already? Come on. Here we go. Alright, let's go. Robin, what's in the news? You don't want to take any calls. I'll take them. You want to take calls? I'll take calls. There are people who want to say welcome back to Pat.

I'm not sure. You want to welcome Pat back to the show? I'm not a big fan of Pat Cooper. Really? Yeah, I think he wronged you when you're being too easy on him. You think I was too easy? Well, I like Pat. I don't care.

I like him. Yeah, well, I don't understand why., I like Pat. I don't care. I like him. Yeah, well, I don't understand why. I just like him. I understand why. He's not funny. Well, because you have no sense of humor. No, I have a sense of humor. No, no, no, no.

You've been a coma too long. You're not funny. Let me tell you something about funny. You know your business. I know my business. You know what you are? You're a butcher that can't cut meat. Did you hear what I said to you?

So back off and stay out of my career. You don't know comedy. You ain't got no hoots you? So back off and stay out of my career. You don't know comedy. You ain't got no chutzpah to go in front of an audience and do things. You know what you are? You're boring. Right. I'm not criticizing your career. I'm just saying. You're criticizing because you don't know talent.

You don't know comedy. You don't know nothing. How dare you get into my lifestyle when you don't know what you're talking about? Howard is a talent. Howard is not a talent. Howard is a man in a cocoon here doing something that he's doing. A lot of people think he's great talent. A lot of people don't think he's got talent. Howard is not a talent. Howard is a man in a cocoon here doing something that he's doing. A lot of people

think he's great talent. A lot of people don't think he's got talent. So do me a favor. Understand English. Go back to school and learn about character. Pat, all you do is yell.

Pat, this is Bob Morton. That's right. That's why I make a million dollars by yelling. All you do is yell. That's great. I gotta yell.

I think it's healthy. Let me hang up. Next. What are you gonna do? Go clean fish. It's good radio, but he's not funny. All right. Thank you. What are you going to do? Go clean fish. It's good radio, but he's not funny. All right.

Thank you. This is Bob Morgan. You have no sense of humor. If you tell me this man's funny, you're out of your mind. You're out of your mind. No, I'm insulting. I don't care if you say I'm not funny. But you tell me this guy's funnier than me. Why are you attacking me?

You're right. I'm not attacking you. Why is it you know I'm funnier than you? You're not funnier than me. I'm a scream. You're not even close to being a scream. Why am I on all these shows? You couldn't even be a clown.

Forget about it. Then why am I so successful? How are you kidding me? Then why am I so successful? You're not successful scream you're not even why am i on all these shows you couldn't even be a clown why am i so successful you're not successful because you're funny it's just something because you're controversial oh but i'm not funny no you're not funny funny like me i'm funny funny funny i'm funny you're semi-funny i'm funny you're controversial when i'm crying i'm funny in the new job keep writing good idea to take calls huh pick them off pick them up all right thank you throw me out. Throw me out. Execute me. I know he probably does executions up in New York State.

Well, that was a good idea. That worked out well. Welcome back. Well, there you go, Pat. Again, you're at war. But the guy's telling me that has no... Why do you have to attack Howard? Why did you attack me?

I had to attack you when he puts me in the same league as your comedy. You're not in my league as comedy. Oh, come on. You're under the league. Can you do stand-up comedy? I don't do stand-up. You couldn't do sit-down comedy. Forget about stand-up.

You couldn't do a radio show. I could do it twice. No, you couldn't. I've done it. And where is it? I've done it. Why aren't you on more? I turned it down.

Ah, come on. You couldn't even compete. I was out of time. Get a radio show against mine and beat me, and then I'll know you're better at it than me. Get a radio show against mine and beat me. If I get a radio show're better at it than me. Get a radio show against mine and beat me. If I get a radio show against yours, it's over. No, it's not. It's over.

I would beat you so soundly, you would be the beating of your life. You can't beat everybody. Get off my back. I've beaten everybody. You want to know something? What kind of man I am? I want to go against you. You know why?

Why? Because that's when you know you're great if you beat the greats, and I would beat you. Go to it. There you go. You could never do it. Oh, tell me I could never. You could try and try and try. I could be right. You couldn't even get never try and try it could be right you couldn't even get up and you may not you may you couldn't even get up in the morning you may realize who me i'm always up you would die from the schedule

some of your people may come on my side i doubt it who you've alienated everyone i already got a kick into the table who do you have i already got a kick into the table. I don't know. Who do you have? I already got to kick into the table. Oh, there you go. Jackie, right out the door, huh? Fashion. That was Pat Cooper on the Howard Stern Show. I used to love it when Pat Cooper would come on the Howard Stern Show. This is the 90s when I was listening to Howard Stern as often as possible. Pat Cooper was the actor and comedian best known for The Jackie Gleason Show, Analyze This, and of course, his many appearances on The Howard Stern Show,

which is where I discovered Pat Cooper. He died at his Las Vegas home on June 6th, 2023. He was 93 years old. Hill and gully rider, hill and gully Hill and gully rider, hill and gully Hill and gully rider, hill and gully Hill and gully rider, hill and gully

Day-oh, day-oh Day-day light and I wanna go home Day-oh, day-oh Day-day light and I wanna go home Well, I'm loadin' the banana boats all night long Day-day light and I wanna go home Hey, all of the workmen sing this song Day delight and I wanna go home

Day oh, day oh Day delight and I wanna go home Day oh, day oh Day delight and I wanna go home Day-oh, day-oh Day-day light And I wanna go home Well, I sleep by sun And I work by moon Day-day light

And I wanna go home I hope to tell you When I get some money Gonna quit so soon Day-day light And I wanna go home Day-oh, day-oh soon Day-oh, day-oh Day-day light and I want to go home

Day-oh, day-oh Sing me! Day-day light and I want wanna go home Teo, Teo Sing me Take delight And I wanna go home Well, I'll pack up all my things And I'll go to sea Take delight And I wanna go home

Oh, then the bananas See the last of me Take delight And I wanna go home Sing me Teo, Teo Believe it or not, that voice you just heard belonged to Alan Arkin, who formed the folk group The Terriers with his two friends. Alan sang and played guitar. That version of Banana Boat Song includes additional lyrics that were written by Alan Arkin.

Of course, you're forgiven if you know Alan better as an actor, because he was one hell of an actor. In the same vein as Philip Seymour Hoffman, Alan Arkin had that ability to elevate any film in which he appeared. He was always great. You might know him best from The Russians Are Coming, The Russians Are Coming, Wait Until Dark,

The Heart is a Lonely Hunter, Catch-22, The In-Laws, Edward Scissorhands, Glen Gary Glen Ross, Gross Point Blank, 13 Conversations About One Thing, Get Smart,

or Argo. Or maybe this film, Little Miss Sunshine, in which he stole the show. Jesus, I'm tired. So fucking tired. You know how tired I am? If some girl came up to me, begged me to fuck her, I couldn tired. So fucking tired. You know how tired I am?

If some girl came up to me, begged me to fuck her, I couldn't do it. Dad? That's how tired I am. Uh, watch the language, huh? She's listening to music. Olive, I'll give you a million dollars if you turn around. See? All right, but the rest does.

All the rest of you. Can I give you some advice? Well, I'm gonna give it to you anyway. I don't want you making the same mistakes I made when I was young. Can we hear this? Dwayne, that's your name, right? Dwayne? This is the voice of experience talking.

Are you listening? Fuck a lot of women, Dwayne. Hey. Not just one woman. Dad. A lot of women. That's enough, all right? Are you getting any? Dad. You can tell me, Dwayne. Hey. Not just one woman. Dad. A lot of women. That's enough, all right? Are you getting any?

Dad. You can tell me, Dwayne. Are you getting any? Come on, please. No? Jesus. You're what? Fifteen?

My God, man. Dad. You should be getting that young stuff. That young stuff is the best stuff in the whole world. Hey, Dad, that's enough. Stop it. Will you kindly not interrupt me, Richard? See, right now, your jailbait, their jailbait, it's perfect. I mean,

you hit 18. Man, you're talking about three to five. Hey, I will pull this truck over right now. So pull the truck over. You're not going to shut me up. Fuck you. I can say what I want. I still got Nazi bullets in my ass. No, they're Nazi bullets. You're as bad as those fuckers at Sunset Manor. What happened at Sunset Manor? Frank, don't encourage him. What happened? I'll tell you what happened. I paid my money. They took my money. I shouldn't be able to do what the fuck I want. You started snorting heroin. You started snorting heroin?

I'm old! Well, that stuff will kill you. What am I, an idiot? And don't you start taking that shit. When you're young, you're crazy to do that stuff. What about you? What about me? I'm old. When you get old, you're crazy not to do it.

We've tried, believe me. The intervention was a fiasco. It's worse than a two-year-old. Can we please talk about something else? I take it you didn't like it at Sunset Manor. Frank. Are you kidding me? It was a fucking paradise. They got a pool. They got golf. Now I'm stuck with Mr. Happy here, sleeping on a fucking sofa. Look, I know you're a hormoneo and all, but maybe you can appreciate this. You go to one of those places, there's four women for every guy. Can you imagine what that's like? You must have been very busy.

Oh, I had second-degree primes on my Johnson, I kid you not. Really? Forget about it. What are you guys talking about? Politics. Oh. Fuck a lot of women, kid. I have no reason to lie to you. Not one woman. A lot of women. You heard what I said? Did it go in anywhere? Yeah, I think we get the point, dad. Don't show me the pad. I don't want to see the fucking pad.

For his role in Little Miss Sunshine, Alan Arkin won the Oscar for Best Actor in a Supporting Role. Alan Arkin died at his home in California on June 29, 2023. He was 89 years old. He was 89 years old. On June 11th, 2023, I was visited by three legendary sports writers in this market. Dave Perkins, Bob Elliott, and Larry Milson. These three gents dropped by to bury me in baseball stories. It was episode 1,271 of Toronto Mic'd, if you haven't heard it yet.

And if you haven't heard it yet, what the hell is wrong with you? Go listen to episode 1,271 of Toronto Mic'd. Here's an excerpt of my conversation with these three scribes. with these three scribes. Can we chat about the late John Sullivan? We lost Sully only a couple of weeks ago. Let's go around the table maybe and hear some Sully stories. Who wants to go first? Well, my favorite John Sullivan story involves a colleague of ours, Alan Ryan,

who another longtime baseball writer for the Toronto Star everybody loves the bear I think it's safe to say that the bear is a one of a kind museum quality human being there's no question about that and the bear was not unfamiliar with things like alcohol and cigarettes, shall we say. And Sully, who was quite a good guy, and I always enjoyed my time around Sully, and these guys will tell you Sully stories. But Sully was a very crusty individual. His nickname was Bunker, as in Archie Bunker.

And Sully was the bullpen coach for a long, long time. So one day in spring training, and you have to remember when we were all going to spring training back in the day, spring training meant nothing, right? Like those games didn't mean anything. It wasn't like now where people are keeping idiot statistics and things. You know, spring training was nothing. It was very, very informal.

So one day we're in Philadelphia, Jack Russell Stadium, the home of the Philadelphia Phillies, which was what, about three miles from the Dunedin Park. So they played the Phillies like two or three times a week, it seemed. Right. So Alan Ryan, as was was his custom would last about four innings in the main box then he would wander down the left field line to the toronto bullpen where he could stand and smoke watch the game and wait for the starting pitcher to come out of the

clubhouse which was right beside the bullpen well down the left field line so one day cedar was the manager cedar gaston was the manager al ryan meanders down the left field line and stands in foul ground smoking a cigarette by the empty bullpen and the telephone rings and the bear looks around as as he would do and take another puff and a cigarette. And the phone kept ringing. And for some reason, John Sullivan was not there. And he might have been in the clubhouse, in the washroom, whatever. But there was no one there.

And after about 10 rings, the bear did, of course, what he shouldn't have done. He reached over and said, hello. And the instant he picked up the telephone, John Sullivan came boiling out of the clubhouse, 100 miles an hour. Put that phone, what's wrong? Screaming and yelling. Sully was not happy.

And the bear goes, oh, I shouldn't have done that. So game ends. Cito calls in Allen and says, did you really pick up the bullpen phone? And Allen says, yeah, I don't know what happened. He got to me or something. But yeah, I know. And Cito airs him out and said, don't do that. Poor Sully almost had a stroke.

He was so upset and blah, blah, blah. So that's fine. So nobody could stay mad at the Bear for long, right? So three days later, whenever they're back playing again in Jack Russell Stadium, before the game, Cito says to Allen Ryan, well, Bear, you going to go down for a smoke after the fourth inning again today and and the bear says oh probably you know and uh and Cito said well tell you what I'll phone down and when Sully answers the phone I'll say is the bear there. Which, of course,

would have made poor Sully's head explode. I mean, as you can tell, things were a lot less, you know, rigid in spring training in those days. But that was my Sully memory. These guys are a lot better. I remember Sully was the first base coach in 1983 in August in Baltimore I remember Solly was the first base coach in 1983 in August in Baltimore

when they got three guys his famous words was now watch out now he's coming picked off number one they took the lead I think it was a Cliff Johnson home run in that inning,

then proceeded to have the next three guys picked off first base. And Tippy Martinez, I don't, the reason was everybody was so eager to steal, and Len Ciccato was playing catcher for the first time since Little League, you know, because of various moves that Altobelli made, that's what they ended up with. And Porcelain next year he was bullpen coach. But I remember Dave Collins, I mean,

Dave Collins was just... And the thing is that Tippi Martinez did not have a good move. In fact, nobody can remember anybody he ever picked off before. But Dave Collins, who was an exceptional base dealer, was so anxious to go. You know, you know and he said oh he was balking he was but that's what everybody said when they got back that he would be bought it was collins and banal and who was the third one

i'm trying to think i should have looked it up covered the game it was so stunning and they lost it. Well, how about you, Bob? You got a John Sullivan. Yeah, I remember the year they, I guess it would have been 95, I guess. It was a work stoppage year. So it was going to be a two-week spring training instead of six weeks. Like the hitters, the hitters are probably ready in two weeks. The pitchers aren't.

Like Flanagan, Mike Flanagan always say, they can go in the cage and hit for two hours. He says, we can throw for 12 minutes, you know. And then we have to take three days off. So the boss, Wayne Parrish, thought it would be a good idea to write every day, these guys threw eight minutes, these guys threw 12 minutes. They could monitor it for the two weeks.

So I tell Cito and he goes, he rolls his eyes and he says, I don't have any time for that. Go and see Galen, Galen Sisko. So every day I would go in and I'd say, Galen, what happened today? So he'd give me the list. So I'm in there, Galen's sitting here, I'm here, and Sully's beside him. So a guy comes in and he says so a guy comes in and he says a writer comes in and he

says john i want to talk to you about ernie witt how's the team going to survive without him and he says i think we'll be all right and so then the guy asks you know how we often do we always ask the same question, just phrased differently. And so Sully's taking his pants off, and he fires his pants into the bin there that they have for the laundry, and he says, the game survived Babe Ruth retiring. I think it can survive any moving to Atlanta or Baltimore, wherever he went.

So the guy leaves, and Doc Taylor was across the way, and Doc Taylor says, John, I think you handled that rather well. Sully was a really great batting practice pitcher. He threw a fastball that went straight, which is what the hitters want to see in BP, and it was just perfect. And I remember George Bell always wanted him, but every once in a while he'd get McLaren. And McLaren was rather playful as a batting practice pitcher.

He would like to throw his little breaking ball and stuff like that. And the thing is, you'd hear George Bell say, Blake, you, McLaren! You can swear, by the way, on this part. Oh, okay. Anyway, the other thing I remember getting on the bus, and McLaren was always needling Sullivan, and you'd hear on the bus McLaren saying,

Bunker, whenever Sully was getting into one of his little snits or whatever. Whenever Sully was getting into one of his little snits or whatever. But he was like solid, you know, and really, you know, solid kind of baseball guy. But also as a person, you know, like away from home, I just really enjoyed him. Yeah. And he looked the part, too, didn't he? Yeah. You know, the cha and the whole thing. He just looked like, he looked baseball.

He looked baseball. And he, remember, he was a backup catcher for the Tigers in the 60s. He used to talk about catching Mickey Lulich and, you know, he used to, he'd get a little disgusted when a pitcher started looking to dugout after five or six innings, you know. And he'd say, you know, a guy like Lulich would six innings you know and he'd say you know guy like lolitz would get in the eighth inning and sully said boy he had to take a hold then because he was really going to bring it when he could smell the finish line he wasn't looking in the

dugout yeah john sullivan the major league baseball catcher who coached for the toronto blue jays from 1982 to 1993 and caught Joe Carter's home run ball in the Sky Dome bullpen on October 23, 1993 at precisely 11.36 p.m. passed away in Wayland, New York on June 1, 2023. Sully was 82 years old. This has been the Ridley Funeral Home Memorial Episode of Toronto Mic'd

for the month of June 2023. If you lost someone you love in June, my sincere condolences. Peace and love to all. I'm Toronto Mike. අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි අපි Thank you.