The Unpublished

Young journalist sharing stories, opinions and food for thought on everything from Draft Day to draught beer. Donations accepted in the form of Sparty Cash.

[theunpublished]

I got this e-mail in the last hours of my last day at MLB.com. I have no idea who this person is, or what it's in reference to, but in an abstract, out-of-context way, I found it to be hilarious and perfectly appropriate.

[theunpublished]

I’ve got a future

Twenty-sixteen is going to be a big year. Exactly nine months before I tie the knot, I’ll be starting a new job at Wilson Sporting Goods as a marketing specialist for the baseball/softball division, which includes the Wilson, Demarini, Louisville Slugger and ATEC brands.

It’s going to be an adjustment from what has been an exciting and fulfilling sportswriting career: a couple Final Fours, progs, Over the Line, Wes Leonard, and the return of the MLB playoffs to Wrigley Field, Washington D.C. and Pittsburgh. The list goes on. But it’s time for a change and I’m thrilled about it.

For my tenure at MLB.com: thank you to Justice Hill, who practically broke into the State News and introduced me to the world of MLB.com; to Bill Hill, who first hired me as an associate reporter; to Kristen Zimmerman, who gave me my first crack at good beat work covering the Nationals in 2013; and to Richard Bush, who has looked out for me since I was hired full-time in 2011, and who allowed me the opportunity to move to Chicago seamlessly (and to Paul Casella, who helped make that possible). 

The list of fine people, editors and mentors who’ve helped me over a journalism career that began in 8th grade is far too long to list. It must include Patti Woodruff, Sara Edleman, Patrick Cwayna, Peter Stuursma, Nick Mrozowski, Esther Gim, Josh Jarman, Melissa Sanchez, Paul Souhrada, Doug Williams, and Mary Ullmer. And it must start and end with my dad. I’m not sure I’m ready for a full journalism career post-mortem just yet.

But as my time with MLB.com ends, perhaps the biggest thank you of all goes to 6-foot-9-inch Thomas Harding, who was the best mentor any young reporter could ask for. Thomas was always gracious enough to pause on deadline -- writing like a pig -- to remind me: Joey, you’ve got a future. Lucky for those of you who haven’t met Thomas, you’ve gotten to know him as I’ve picked up on so many of his -isms. I think I’m gonna make it … He’s a sweet child … I feel good, I feel clean, I feel like I’ve got what it takes to win a championship … Thomas, I love you and I don’t care who knows it.

The same goes to all of you. Thanks for reading, and for following. On to the next one. I think I’m gonna make it.

[theunpublished]

Boozy Root Beer is Taking the Country By Storm - Bon Appétit

How Not Your Father's Root Beer came to dominate the hard root beer market, and why people are clamoring for the boozy, nostalgic soda pop.

Duh.

[theunpublished]

‘Twas the Last Play at the Big House

I wish I could take credit for this. Thanks to my friend John Kirby for sharing it and to The Only Colors for posting it. As John said, “It is easily my favorite gift of the holiday season so far.” Merry Christmas. 

'Twas the last play of the game And in the Big House Maize and blue fans were ready "Little Brother!" they'd shout

Their team up by 2 Just 10 seconds remain And thoughts of Paul Bunyan Danced in their brains

Spartan Nation was glum It seemed much too late It stood 4th and 2 On the State 48

Coach D on the sideline Gathered players to hear They call them the Rangers And their mission was clear

Every man knew his job And each Ranger all Come hell or high water Must get to that ball

The teams took the field Not a Spartan was back They took to the line And were primed to attack

Maize and blue fans may wonder As they toss in their sleep Why they had 2 gunners When no one was deep

The snap came in low So the punter reached down The ball hit his hands And then hit the ground

More rapid than eagles Those Rangers they came And Coach D he shouted And called them by name

"Now, Macksood! Now, Harrell!" "Now Leimbach and Grayson!" "On, Dowell! On, Willis!" "On Monty and Jalen!"

Then what to our wondering Eyes did we see But a forceful collision And heard "The ball is free!"

That ball it took flight In the chaotic action And went straight to the hands Of Jalen Watts-Jackson

Then off to the end zone Those Rangers they sped To flip it all upside down In this game they'd not led

With blockers aplenty And green grass in sight A hero named Jackson Was surrounded by white

And old Sean McDonough Announcing that run-back Couldn't help that his vocal cords Started to crack

As the ball crossed the goal line Disbelief filled the air With hands to their heads The stunned crowd could just stare

The Rangers had done it They'd finished the trip The only casualty in white Was poor Jackson's hip

The clock read all zeroes The Spartans had won Their dream of a title Was not yet quite done

And into the air Of that Ann Arbor night Rose loud Spartan cheers Of "Go Green! Go White!"

Merry Christmas!

[theunpublished]

A Chimney’s Poignant Surprise: Letters Santa Missed, Long Ago

Every December for the past 15 years, an acting coach has honored two children whose notes hint at the hardships of a former Irish neighborhood in Manhattan.

P.S. Please do not forget the poor.

[theunpublished]

My favorite music of 2015

Notice I didn’t say “the best music of 2015.″ (Though, let’s be honest — it is.)

These are not in any particularly order. But if they were, Mika would be at the top. Because, Mika.

Also, I created a playlist of these songs (plus a few other good ones, minus Adele) on Spotify if you want to listen that way. Enjoy!

Mika — Good Wife

OK, so I put him at the top. Always hard to choose just one.

Paulina Rubio, Morat — Mi Nuevo Vicio

Catchiest song of the year. Don’t even care.

firekid — Lay By Me

Came very close to wearing this one out by playing it on repeat in September.

Adele — When We Were Young

I could very easily post half of the songs on this album. This one’s my favorite. (Though does anyone else get a strong hint of Leaving On a Jet Plane when you hear it?)

Adele — Water Under the Bridge

Just kidding. This one’s my favorite.

Raury, Tom Morello — Friends

Nick Jonas — Jealous

Vintage — High Dive Heart

More from this song later this year.

Carly Rae Jepsen — Making the Most of the Night

Elle King — America’s Sweetheart

Grace, G-Eazy — You Don’t Own Me

Lunchmoney Lewis — Bills

GODDAMN, goddamn, goddamn.

Andrew Martin — A Good Man

East kids don’t quit. 

Anderson East — Find ‘Em, Fool ‘Em and Forget ‘Em

Donnie Trumpet and the Social Experiment — Slip Slide

Chicago, stand up.

Macklemore and Ryan Lewis — Downtown

The joy and wonder of Eric Nally. And this video.

Brandon Flowers — Dreams Come True

Please just get back with The Killers and make another album.

Grace Potter — Empty Heart

This girl can put on a show.

Gary Clarke Jr. — Can’t Sleep

Dude is legendary.

Hailee Steinfeld — You’re Such A

I’m not gonna hold Pitch Perfect 2 against you, HAIZ.

PHASES — Betty Blue

Feeling this song currently.

Halsey — Colors

In keeping with the ROYGBIV theme.

King Charles — LoveBlood

My favorite album of 2015 came out in 2012. So it gets a pass for this list.

Misterwives — Hurricane

Strong contender for favorite album of the year.

Leon Bridges — Smooth Sailin’

This guy is out of this world.

Little Mix — Black Magic

Don’t hate us cuz you ain’t us.

Nate Ruess — Great Big Storm 

See: Brandon Flowers

The New Basement Tapes — Kansas City

See: Brandon Flowers

Parson James — Temple

Parson James — Sinner Like You

Zac Brown Band — Junkyard

Mostly because of this.

Rachel Platten — Lone Ranger

Get it, girl.

Omi — Cheerleader (Felix Jaehn Remix)

ROMANS — Uh Huh

James Bay — Hold Back the River

Sneaky-great album.

Jason Derulo — Want to Want Me

*whispers* derulo

Matoma, Notorious B.I.G. feat. Ja Rule and Ralph Tresvant — Old Thing Back

Just the best old-school sound. But do NOT listen to this song with your mother in the car. Or a small child.

Nathaniel Rateliff and the Night Sweats — S.O.B.

My spirit animal in a song.

The entire Hamilton broadway cast recording

Sorry. Had to.

Side note — Best concert of 2015: Taylor Swift’s 1989 tour at Soldier Field. Close second: Stevie Wonder’s Songs in the Key of Live tour at the United Center. Honorable mention: Jukebox the Ghost at SoHo House; Halsey, James Bay and Misterwives at The Vic; Bronze Radio Return at Lincoln Hall.

[theunpublished]

Dantonio takes MSU football from erratic to excellent

How coach turned MSU into a consistent championship contender

"Almost every week there are things that are gonna happen that separate winning and losing," Hollis said. "And Mark has found a way to be on the positive side of that separation. And I think when it happens that often, it's not luck. It's a way to prepare. It's a way to believe and have your student-athletes and coaches always knowing that there's something that's gonna come along in the game, and to overcome whatever adversity is thrown at them and have a chance to win.

"He's done a great job of framing that for all of us. I haven't seen a program where it's a single play that defines a legacy, over and over. It's amazing how many of those moments have been captured."

[theunpublished]

Epic game-winning drive sends Mich. State to playoff

Michigan State's game-winning 22-play drive to beat Iowa and win the Big Ten title summed up the Spartans' philosophy that has allowed them to rise under Mark Dantonio

You have to find the inches, Dantonio often says whenever he’s discussing why some teams succeed and others fail. Now his team needed 2,952 of them in the worst way, and it damn near came by them one at a time.

[theunpublished]

The Lonely Death of George Bell

Each year around 50,000 people die in New York, some alone and unseen. Yet death even in such forlorn form can cause a surprising amount of activity. Sometimes, along the way, a life’s secrets are revealed.

[theunpublished]

At Manhattan Marriage Bureau, a Union of Matrimony and Bureaucracy

The number of marriage ceremonies at Lower Manhattan’s cradle of codified romance has jumped by nearly 50 percent since 2008.

“Congrats on marriage and this and that,” the man yelled, “but we’re trying to keep the leaves together.”

[theunpublished]

This story appears in the Oct. 26, 2015, issue of Sports Illustrated. Subscribe to the magazine here. One play remained in Michigan State's 90th football game against Michigan, but Tom Izzo had seen enough. Michigan State's basketball coach left the Spartans' bench last Saturday with his son, S...

"Get 11 guys up. Nobody back. If you rough the guy, it doesn't matter. You gotta lay out, and you've gotta go. This is our last shot.

"Scoop it if you get it."

Damn, this is good.

[theunpublished]

My man.

[theunpublished]

The Pitch, by ESPN’s 30 for 30

[theunpublished]

Pickles: a love story

[theunpublished]

On repeat today, a great day.

[puttingthelingrilling]

I have long explained to people the sort of complication in having a popular vice – say, sports – be, to me, work. For most of my life, since I chose sports journalism as a profession, my business has been others’ pleasure. What others do after work – take in a ballgame, check the scores, explore heated rivalries – is what I do when I’m on the clock. 

It’s a complicated dynamic but when you see the passion people have for sports and the need for it as an outlet after a long day, you don’t mind as much getting into it again after your own long day – even when it involved that same material.

But like the way others want to watch a ballgame after a long day at the office, I often want a change of pace after a day at the ballpark. And I’ve found a place, tucked in a three-foot-wide alley along Bissell Street (and sometimes wheeled out into the larger back alley). My girlfriend and I moved into this apartment this spring, and on our first night using the grill at our new home, we were struck by the atmosphere of city grilling with the L train going by in the background. 

Courtney and I have long been interested in food. We cook, alone and together, more than most couples our age and have a keen interest in not only the culinary scene in Chicago, but also to wherever we travel (New Orleans tops them all, Nashville was a recent venture, and my stint in New York was a serious influence). I’ve also spent time this year working with Read It & Eat, a unique and exciting culinary bookstore in Lincoln Park, that has gone to only further my interest in cooking and my knowledge of the craft and its world. 

It was in that alley that Courtney and I (with a bit of inspiration from her sister, Campbell) decided to form this blog, where we can highlight some of our favorite recipes on the grill, explore some new ones and offer some thoughts on the process and the outcome. 

We both grew up in a West Michigan small town, where backyards were as much a staple of a home as a front door. City living doesn’t offer the same convenience for grilling, but we want to show that it can be done. All you need is your three-foot-wide space.

[theunpublished]

From the people who brought you The Unpublished … check out Putting the L in Grilling.

[theunpublished]