My response to the Chicago 2016 Olympic Host decision on WGN TV

I can’t really get myself to write something about my total chicago 2016 experience yet, as I said i would in my  blog airing my cnn interview live from Copenhagen. As you can see from my footage in the chicago 2016 olympic decision viewing room,  it was a crushing blow to all with a deadly silence & sadness after. But I will say that the totally feelings about all are enormously positive. Unfortunately, really just too positive to wrap my head around it all and express it in words. So, what better way to really let you know what is in my head as I keep getting requests on twitter, but to leave you with a phone call I got minutes after the decision was made, as I walked into the public celebratory party in the streets of Copenhagen that I video blogged about two posts down, when I took this call and went live on tv for I don’t know how many viewers across the country-

I have to say, although again my total experience was enormously positive (yes, even including the official rio victory party I attended & shared with you last night), at this moment I had a stunned, paralyzed honesty going on that you sometimes can only find in people when they are so crushed & defeated that they can no longer keep their fight up, and it all comes spilling out… anyway, I hope you my fellow Chicagoans who I love the most pay particular attention to the last minute of this tv interview… as I sincerely meant it… and from that I expect very good things will come of us going forward… to accomplish more great things for ourselves and for the rest of the world… I know I am excited to be a part of that movement… in any way you need me… thanks, billy.

Tags: 2016, chicago, chicago 2016 olympics, copenhagen, olympics, rio, tv, wgn tv

celebrity addresses of all who helped bring the olympics back to the usa in 2016!

Hey all!

Please take a second to cut/paste, forward & share this list of Celebrity messages to your contacts so all feel our enthusiasm & support!  In such a tight race, who knows, it could positively get to someone voting for the 2016 Olympic Host City this Friday, helping the United States of America to win!

“friends” david schwimmer http://bit.ly/btQTRq

“entourage” jeremy piven http://bit.ly/aGIqqm

“oscar winner” jamie foxx http://bit.ly/9QWUJq

“saturday night live” dan aykroyd http://bit.ly/bVbATY

“the rachael ray show” rachael ray http://bit.ly/bEdzqr

“lopez tonight” george lopez http://bit.ly/acVaxM

“grammy winner” common http://bit.ly/bQpGO9

“csi” william Petersen http://bit.ly/cL93pl

“private practice” kate walsh http://bit.ly/bgKPg7

“america’s got talent” nick cannon http://bit.ly/cky0mI

“scrubs” zach braff http://bit.ly/bVzaSW

“american idol” david cook http://bit.ly/c0fBRf

“destiny’s child” michelle Williams http://bit.ly/cEJ6uF

“the late show” jimmy fallon http://bit.ly/9npVXA

“green mile” michael clarke duncan http://bit.ly/9RQ5JQ

“the hills” brody jenner http://bit.ly/cePwqd

“one tree hill” sophia bush http://bit.ly/bRUxzP

“grammy winner” john legend http://bit.ly/bt1Xoj

“will & grace” sean hayes http://bit.ly/aC4JlA

“the roots” questlove http://bit.ly/aXQg2G

“bizarre foods” andrew zimmern http://bit.ly/b3UVOc

“cheers” george wendt http://bit.ly/bWBIpX

“law & order” s. epatha merkerson http://bit.ly/b5mec9

“grammy nominated” plain white ts http://bit.ly/acPFDP

“nba star”  dwyane wade http://bit.ly/df4XPV

“rescue me” daniel sunjata http://bit.ly/9Pg7oB

“chicago bear” tom thayer http://bit.ly/byFXrV

“nip/tuck”  joey slotnick http://bit.ly/9ITPD5

“chicago bull” luol deng http://bit.ly/bHqCQ2

“house” peter jacobson http://bit.ly/clYWvM

chicago bears” brian urlacher http://bit.ly/94tasN

“my name is earl” nadine velazquez http://bit.ly/9Q8goh

“Sports Writer” Jay Mariotti  http://bit.ly/dnlkaD

“Musicians” Josh Kelley/Ryan Cabrera http://bit.ly/amtv3c

“My Girl” Anna Chlumsky  http://bit.ly/9J1xU8

“White Sox/World Series MVP” Jermaine Dye http://bit.ly/a52dr7

“Good Charlotte” Joel Madden http://bit.ly/cU8k9X

“Chicago Cub” Randy Wells http://bit.ly/b5o9ya

“Late Night With Conan O’Brien” Andy Richter http://bit.ly/9KZbRX

“Greek” Spencer Grammer http://bit.ly/9pvMKT

“Superbowler” Simeon Rice http://bit.ly/9uXL3G

“90210” Christina Moore http://bit.ly/ctxN5R

“Rescue Me” Larenz Tate http://bit.ly/9Pg7oB

“Roller Derby” The Chicago Outift http://bit.ly/d8i0aZ

“At The Movies” At The Movies http://bit.ly/8XcF35

“Actor and Comedian” Bill Bellamy http://bit.ly/bgNEfR

“Greek” Scott Michael Foster http://bit.ly/8XYf0U

“NBA Cheerleaders” The Luvabulls http://bit.ly/cfPJrz

“Malcolm in The Middle” Frankie Muniz http://bit.ly/9cT9eD
“My Boys” Reid Scott http://bit.ly/c1xyVm
“Melrose Place” Katie Cassidy http://bit.ly/cny4pl
“Criminal Minds”  Joe Mantegna http://bit.ly/ctI9B1
“Grammy Winner” Busta Rhymes http://bit.ly/bG0OW5

“Keeping Up With The Kardashians” The Kardashians http://bit.ly/cj434Z
“Grammy Winner” Jermaine Dupri http://bit.ly/bg74ve

“WNBA Star” Sylvia Fowles http://bit.ly/cHRoRk

“Access Hollywood” Billy Bush http://bit.ly/9IgZVN

“Community/ The Soup” Joel McHale http://bit.ly/drwSeG

“Bones” David Boreanaz http://bit.ly/culQ64

“The Office” John Krasinski http://bit.ly/culAeS

Thanks all for forwarding & spreading this by email, facebook, myspace, twitter, posting… how ever you can!  Your friend…

Billy Dec

Tags: 2016, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, olympics

chicago 2016 olympics w/ musician & producer from the roots ?uestlove

after hanging with jimmy fallon back stage at “the late show” after his show, interviewing him about why he loves chicago (see below)… I had to sit with my man questlove from “the roots!”  now, I have always loved the band “the roots” but after getting to know my man questlove… I have even more respect for the group!  He is just a super smart guy, who knows his music, knows his history, knows his culture, and knows his chicago!  I think you will agree when you see this video…

as for me & the olympics, if you are following me on twitter (click here to follow), you know i just left russia, landed in sweden, and am soon to be in copenhagen to meet president obama & my fellow chicago 2016 olympic committee members for the official 2016 olympic host announcement on oct 2nd where i am sure chicago will win! especially if everyone helps to spread our enthusiastic spirit! 

you can do this by just sharing all the celebrity messages on this site w/ your friends, family, coworkers & everyone else you can for the next couple days… by email, phone, facebook, twitter, chatboards,… which helps these celebrities virally get the word out to the world that chicago (and the u.s in general) will be the perfect place to hold the 2016 olympics, and that americans are all very excited to host all who can join us (including the 4.4+ billion people watching on tv) for the most amazing sport, cultural & friendship strengthening event ever! thank you for your help everyone & keep spreading the news!

Tags: chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, jimmy fallon, olympics, the late show, the roots

chicago 2016 olympics w/ roller derby's "the chicago outfit"

Tags: cheers, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, copenhagen, george wendt, michelle obama, norm, olympics, roller derby, the chicago outfit

cnn just skype'd me live from russia! omg.

That was a serious rush- almost out of no where- CNN, played around the world to millions, wants to skype me while in Russia in my hotel room?  Crazy!  Keep following me on twitter (click here to follow) as I make my way through Russia, then sweden, ending in copenhagen to meet mrs. obama & my fellow chicago 2016 olympic committee members for the official 2016 olympic host announcement on oct 2nd where i am sure chicago, and the U.S. in general, will win! especially if everyone helps now…

you can help by just sharing all the celebrity messages on this site w/ your friends, family, coworkers & everyone else you can for the next couple days… by email, phone, facebook, twitter, chatboards,… which helps these celebrities virally get the word out to the world that chicago (and the u.s in general) will be the perfect place to hold the 2016 olympics, and that americans are all very excited to host all who can join us (including the 4.4+ billion people watching on tv) for the most amazing sport, cultural & friendship strengthening event ever! thank you for your help everyone & keep spreading the news!

Tags: chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, cnn, michelle obama, obama, skype

chicago 2016 olympics with "cheers" george wendt

i was always, and still am a fan of george, especially when he was norm on “cheers.” i also love his connection with chicago and that he was part of the legendary second city!!  

don’t forget – as my rockit ranch partners and i make our way to copenhagen in these last 5 days until the big decision as to who will host the 2016 games – this is your chance to really help in the final hours by sharing these videos of incredible celebrity support with everyone you know!

Tags: cheers, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, george wendt, norm, second city

chicago 2016 olympics w/ e!'s khloe & kourtney kardashian

Good timing to post my interview with the kardashians as their show tomorrow is a big one i hear? kourtney was telling me about her big news too – watch above and enjoy! 

and don’t forget, we’re in the final push towards copenhagen with only 5 days left until the big decision as to who will host the 2016 olympic games – so now more than ever is the time to share these videos with everyone you know!!

Tags: bruce jenner, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, kardashian, khloe kardashian, kourtney kardashian

chicago 2016 olympics w/ actress anna chlumsky

You all remember anna from “my girl” back in the day… she also has been on a ton of shows lately like “30 rock” to landing a cool new gig w/ bbc films called “in the loop” w/ james gandolfini… but I think she is cool because of her positive energy and excitement she shows for her hometown of chicago!  I also think it’s pretty cool that she went to university of chicago, one of the hardest schools in the country.

Speaking of education, If know me, you know I always preach about the importance of educating ourselves constantly and continually.  You may also know how passionately I feel about learning social media & interactive marketing, just read my blog about it last week.  Well, with that I got some of my readers 20 tix for “the chicago tech expo” on oct 1^st, which is a great way for managers, business owners, staff… to learn the latest in technology from over one thousand local business owners there to help.

I know it will be great because the organization behind it, the Dept. of Business Affairs & Consumer Protection, has been very passionate about the initiative, and has worked very hard on the event.  I have watched the work go into it as I have been volunteering as co-chair of their Education, Communications & Technology Committee on their Hospitality Industry Advisory Group, in effort to give back and share what I have learned over the years… and it is very obvious to me that they are very committed to helping.

Anyway, the tix are on me for those who best comment below about why they need to be at this event, and share which celebrity olympic video has been their absolute favorite. we will pick 20 winners by next weds to each take a ticket on me, to go, learn, explore & enjoy!!!!!  (and make sure you hit me on twitter and/or facebook to let me know how it went!)  For more information, details & reasons why you should attend, visit www.chicagotechexpo.net.

Tags: 2016, 30 rock, anna chlumsky, bbc, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, chicago tech expo, communications and technology committee, dan aykroyd, department of business affairs and consumer protection, education, hospitality industry advisory group, in the loop, james gandolfini, my girl, olympics, taste of chicago, university of chicago, washington park, world's fair

chicago 2016 olympics w/ chicago cubs' randy wells

Randy is not only an amazing starting pitcher for the chicago cubs, but he is from the great state of lllinois, loves chicago, and loves the idea of having the Olympics in 2016!  I also like his ideas of bringing baseball and golf back???  Do you agree?  If could bring only one of the two to the Olympics in 2016, which one would it be? 

my celebrity interview blog post a day until I get to Copenhagen on oct 2nd is almost coming to an end… we only have 6 days left!!!!  Now more than ever we all need you to share these videos by phone, face to face, email, facebook, twitter… to let the world know how great chicago (& the usa in general) is and how much we want to welcome the world for the greatest sport, cultural and friendship making event in history!

Tags: 2016, baseball, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, chicago cubs, cubs, golf, olympics, randy wells

from russia with love

check out this video of me, my buddy pat daley, and my rockit ranch partners arturo gomez & brad you, running through the red square in moscow last night! i know, so random. pat happened to be here (and apparently really knows his history), and if you follow me on twitter & facebook, you know my partners and i are making our way through russia and sweden before pulling up by train in copenhagen for the oct 2nd official olympic decision determining whether chicago ( and the usa in general) wins or loses the honor of being host of the 2016 summer games!  

will keep trying to share parts of the journey with you as i go…hope you enjoy! and if you could please help us win next week that would be amazing! just share the news of all celebrity videos i have been posting each day here on www.aChicagoThing.com w/ your friends, co-workers, family…as fast as you can…to spread these celebrity messages virally on the internet, so the world knows how great our country is, and how much we want to welcome guests (and the 4.4+ billion watching on tv), playing host to the greatest sport, cultural and global friendship strengthening celebration in the world!

Tags: 2016, arturo gomez, brad young, chicago, chicago 2016, chicago 2016 olympics, copenhagen, moscow, olympics, patrick daley, red square, russia, sweden