Sports Diva’s Game Day Training at Rockit Burger Bar

Show the men what’s up the next time football come’s up in a conversation at the water cooler – throw the pom pom’s down and take charge, ladies!

Come hang out at Rockit Burger Bar and learn the essentials of the NFL with the Sports Diva’s Game Day Training Brunch! Guests are invited to enjoy brunch, mimosa’s and Skinny Red Wine in Rockit Burger Bar’s intimate upstairs lounge while hanging out with other Chicagoans who might also need a little football refreshing!

The ladies of Sport’s Diva’s will teach you everything football and in a way that makes sense – from names, to the game rules and lingo. You’ll learn all the football facts you need to know to intelligently mingle with fanatics during the brunch training – After the class with Sports Diva’s, guests are encouraged to migrate to the downstairs bar to show off their new skills and watch the Bears vs Titans game (12pm).

Tickets are $25 dollars for Game Day Brunch – the deal also gets you two free drink tickets!

To purchase tickets, learn more information or make reservations click here!

-Mandy Sifter 

Tags: bears, brunch, Drink, Drinks, fanatics, football, game, Game Day, lingo, mimosa’s, NFL, reservations, Rockit Burger Bar, rules, Skinny Red Wine, Sports Diva’s, Titans, training

Nike North v South Softball Battle w/ White Sox AJ Pierzynski, Bears Johnny Knox, Rockit Ranch Billy Dec & more!

Via Meghan Goulette: Had such a fun afternoon in the park yesterday with our CEO, Billy Dec, after invited to watch him play in the Nike Northside vs Southside Challenge. White Sox player AJ Pierzynski may have coached the Southside team to a victory, but Billy and the Northside crew gave them a  run for their money (led by Johnny Knox of the Chicago Bears who stepped in to coach when Cubs’ Ryan Dempster ended up on DL). The event showcased the Nike Fuel Band, keeping stats on calories (check the video for Johnny poking a little fun at Billy’s stats), steps & more…I actually just bought the band for my dad! Highlight of the game by far was Billy’s double play complete with a sky high catch (AJ coined it the “2nd best catch ever”…see what he called first best in the video). Shout out to all the players listed below!

Billy Dec
Trevor Kuhn
Tim Seong
Brotha Fred
Lisa Frame
Edgar Rico
Frank Cashmost
Adam Crouch
Chris Sifuentes
Berj Alexanian
Marie Purvis
Julie DiCaro
Frank Kladis
Players Player
AJ Pierzynski
Ernest Wilkins
Kayla Duffy
Michael Myers
Alex Gallegos
Kristin Cullinan
Frankie Loeza
DJDimepiece
Julie Zakarias
Joe Cowley
Kelli Zink
Twitter Player
Michael Bittles

Tags: AJ Pierszynski, baseball, bears, billy dec, chicago, cubs, football, Fuel Band, johnny knox, Nike, white sox

Make A Wish w/ Jordan, Daley, Corgan, Urlacher, Blackhawks, Rockit Ranch & more!

The Make A Wish Foundation of Illinois is celebrating their 25th Anniversary of their Gala the “Wish Ball” this Saturday May 21st by honoring 25 people and organizations that they have deemed “Leaders In Joy!”  I am beyond honored to say that I am among this humbled group along others like Michael Jordan, Mayor Daley & Maggie Daley, Larry Wert, Billy Corgan of Smashing Pumpkins, Brian Urlacher, the Chicago Blackhawks and more. Since 1985 Make A Wish has been granting special wishes to children facing life threatening illnesses giving each child the power to decide the nature of their wish, providing a sense of renewed faith, courage and self-confidence. These are not in any way “last wishes” but experiences that remind the wish kids that although everything in their world seems to be falling apart, there is still good and magic out there, and I love that message.

As much as there are “Leaders In Joy” being honored, to me this event will be way more about celebrating the work that the Make A Wish team has done by granting nearly 10,000 wishes across the state! One of those wishes was for an awesome little girl, Sydney Martin, (in picture above) that I had the pleasure of meeting last March when helping her present her necklace jewelry line in a run-way show. I blogged about Sydney right after not only because I was extremely moved by her story, but also I was excited about her talents & future.  She was diagnosed in 2007 with an extremely rare blood disease called Langerhan’s Cell Histicytosis (LCH), and started her own necklace line she has used to raise over $120,000 for LCH research.  I’m just inspired by that, and feel like I got just as much out of helping, as she may have received by being granted a wish.

Because of the wonderful feelings and giving all the way around, I’m really looking forward to honoring her, the many many other kids like her, and all those that have been an important part of building the Illinois chapter in to the largest and most well-known wish-granting organization in the region.. to be included in that is something I will always cherish.

For more information about the Make A Wish Foundation and this year’s Wish Ball – please take the time to visit www.wishes.org.

Tags: bears, billy corgan, billy dec, blackhawks, brian urlacher, bulls, charity, chicago, chicago bears, chicago blackhawks, chicago bulls, chicago charity events, langerhan's cell histicytosis, larry wert, lch, maggie daley, major daley and maggie daley, make a wish, make a wish foundation, make a wish foundation of illinois, make a wish iliinois chapter, mayor daley, michael jordan, rockit ranch productions, smashing pumpkins, syd rocks, sydney martin, the bulls, wish ball, wish ball 2011

Cocktails w/ Chicago Bears’ Rashied Davis & Teammates for Education at Rockit!

Fans of the Bears, helping the community, Education, great food & drink, meeting amazing people… This event is for you!!!  Chicago Bears’ Rashied Davis has supported my philanthropic events for art, theatre, feeding poor.. for years.. and I am honored to help him get the word out about how his huge heart has taken it to the next level by hosting his own huge party for a wonderful cause on Tuesday May 17th from 6-8p at Rockit Bar & Grill (22 W. Hubbard)!

This amazing event will support Rashied Davis Charities’ efforts to “teach students how to overcome obstacles to success through inspiration, preparation and discipline.” They help empower the fundamentals of reading, writing and speech to underserved kids teaching them how to apply tools to problem solve, communicate properly and just be an all around contributing member of society. I’m fully on board w/their mission, I have often talked about how communication leads to relationship building which leads to personal growth and opportunities.. And I’m always behind a fun time to help accomplish all of that!

So join us May 17th!  You can mingle with a bunch of Chicago Bears like Lance Briggs, Alex Brown, Anthony Adams, Jerry Azumah, Earl Bennett, Johnny Knox… different local celebrities, media, and all around fun supporters from everywhere who just care like you… cocktails, appetizers, silent auction & more… Get your tickets now: http://rashieddavischarities.org/homepage.aspx and I’ll see you there!

Tags: alex brown, anthony adams, bears, bears 2011, billy dec, charity, charity events, chicago, chicago bears, chicago event listing, chicago summer events, earl bennett, football, fundraiser, jerry azumah, johnny knox, lance briggs, rashied davis, rashied davis charities, rockit, rockit bar, rockit bar and grill, silent auction, sports

sing w/ me, second city, chicago fire department & more…for bears vs packers!

Check out this video I did a while back w/many other fun chicagoans singing our fight song “bear down chicago bears!” someone just sent it to me on twitter and it seemed perfect to share since the whole city is gearing up for the big game this sunday between the bears and the packers in their only other post season match up since their first in 1941- which happens to also be the year this song was written!

It was december 14, 1941, just one week after the attack on pearl harbor, when the bears won 33-14 going on to win the nfl championship against the new york giants! The bears/packers rivalry began in 1921, which makes it the longest and oldest standing rivalry in the nfl. No wonder people are saying it’s gonna be the biggest game in history, even bigger than the actual superbowl feb 6th… Which I already got my tickets for because I know the bears are gonna go all the way!  Go bears!!!

go bears!

Tags: bear down, bears, bears vs packers, billy dec, chicago, chicago bears, chicago sings bear down, dallas, football, george went, go bears, green bay packers, nfl championship, packers, playoffs, superbowl 2011, texas

Fighting Illini v. Northwestern Wildcats football at Wrigley Field!

Wrigley field is one of the most iconic baseball stadiums in the country- located right here in the great city of Chicago and has served as the home field of the Chicago Cubs since 1916.  However, did you know that it also was the home of the Chicago Bears (see pic above of the Bears at Wrigley Field) between 1921-1970 & even held the record for holding the most NFL games played within a season up until 2003?

Well I’m super excited that Wrigley will again host football (which hasn’t happened in 40 years!) w/ my alma mater, the Illini, going head-to-head w/ the Wildcats on November 20 for this highly awaited collegiate Big 10 conference game.  Who will join me to watch this game at Rockit Wrigley with the Chicago Illini Club w/ food & drinks??  For tickets, visit www.chicagoillini.org… Let’s go Illini!

(more…)

Tags: bears, big 10, big 10 conference, chicago, cubs, fighting illini, northwestern, northwestern university, u of i, university of illinois, wildcats, wrigley field

White Sox Frank Thomas Retires w/ Big Honor! Richard Dent's to come!

There’s some breaking news today in the world of Chicago sports teams that really hit home w/ me! The White Sox declared they will retire Frank Thomas’ No. 35 as the former Sox player simultaneously announced his retirement! I had to give him a shoutout – he’s always been one of my favorite players and friends to hang w/ back when he played for and lived in Chicago!

Word has it that Thomas’ uniform number will be retired during a ceremony on August 29th at Cellular Field when the Sox take on the NY Yankees – also known as “Frank Thomas Day!” Congrats brother – what an unbelievable honor that is so rightfully deserved!

In celebration of all, sharing this pic of Frank and another Chicago sports legend buddy, Richard Dent, at my bday party a couple years ago! Thought it was relevant because just hung w/ Richard in Miami for the Superbowl.

Bummed about news that he didn’t get entry into the 2010 class of The Pro Football Hall of Fame after 6 times up for it as a finalist in the last 7 years. Huge bummer – but Richard – keep your head up man, you are an inspiration for athletes, Chicagoans and football fans alike. You’re time will come!

Tags: baseball, bears, cellular field, chicago bears, Chicago White Sox, denied entry, frank thomas, frank thomas day, hall of fame, hall of fame finalist, icon, legends, miami, new york yankees, pro football hall of fame, pro football hall of fame 2010, retirement, retires, retires jersey, richard dent, sports, superbowl, teams, uniform, white sox

chicago 2016 olympics w/ chicago bears tom thayer

as part of sport-celeb olympic interview week here on achicagothing i thought i would share  sports legend, tom thayer, from our 1985 superbowl champions – the chicago bears! he was my favorite player and is now a great sports media figure for the team! 

remember all, if you want to help bring the olympic games home to chicago (and usa in general) share these celebrity videos i post each day for all through email, facebook, twitter….as fast as you can, where ever you can! will help spread the word far and fast – only 19 days to go until i land in copenhagen for the official decision on oct 2nd as to whether america wins or not!

Tags: 1985, bears, champions, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago bears, olympics, superbowl, tom thayer

chicago 2016 olympics w/ chicago bears brian urlacher

As you know, I interviewed a bunch of random celebrity friends about why they think chicago is amazing, and why they feel our city (and country) would make a great host for the 2016 olympics… and plan to keep posting one of them a day here until I land in Copenhagen on oct 2^nd for the official decision as to whether chicago (and the U.S. in general) will be honored as the official host of the 2016 olympics! 

Well, being that the olympics is not only a spectacular cultural celebration, but the greatest sport celebration the world has ever known, I thought it would be fun to take this week to feature some of my favorite sports teams and athletes to share their thoughts on the above as well… and who better to kick it all off with but probowling captain of nfl chicago bears brian urlacher… enjoy! 

And don’t forget, if a fan of urlacher’s, the bears, chicago, usa, the Olympics,… and us just want to help all, we only have 25 days until that official decision in Copenhagen where we either win or loose… and all you have to do to help is to just share these celebrity interviews far and wide on email, twitter, facebook, myspace, post it on chatboards… just get the word out to as many people as you can!  Thanks all!

Tags: 2016, bears, brian urlacher, chicago, chicago bears, olympics