Once upon a time a little idiot was born. The little idiot knew nothing until one day his older brothers forced him into little league baseball. Funny he showed signs of some (Let’s not push it) skill and fell in love with game. Later the idiot’s mother played music for him and being the dullard that he (still is) is didn’t like the Beatles but loved Luciano Pavarotti.

Some time later the little idiot grew into an adolescent idiot and learned about girls. Oh No!!

Now he liked them just fine but that music thing? That spoke to his soul.

Along about 1974 the idiot now a desperate teenager heard Black Sabbath for the first time and proceeded to immediately lose his shit. More drugs were needed right away as the music required dedication and devotion. Only hard cores allowed on this bus.

That music changed the trajectory of my life.

When I was a teen my grandmother came by for a visit and noticed my t-shirt. It was a Black Sabbath “Sabbath Bloody Sabbath” tour shirt and she told me one day I would be sorry that I wore such a thing.

That never happened!

Around the same time say 1975 I started really watching baseball. Since I had now been playing organized ball in the summer for some 7 seasons. I fell in love with the Chicago (don’t get me started) Cubs. Loved afternoons with Harry and Jimmy Pearsall. Those guys would drink mass amounts of beer and forget there was a baseball game going on.

In my early twenties my favorite team introduced to me my soon to be favorite (Still is and forever shall remain) player. Ryne Sandberg.

Yes that is both his rookie and an autographed model, thanks for asking.

I was fortunate enough to have gotten to see him play (sorry so many suds swallowed have forgotten many details) several times and either he or Andre Dawson hit a home run in every game I saw during their era. Every one.

In the last couple of days both Ozzy and Ryno have died.

Who’s next? Richie Blackmore? Stephen King?

For good or bad both of these men had a huge impact on my life.

Was watching the Cubs play earlier today and man I love the Pete Crow Armstrong kid and metal?

Without Black Sabbath there would be no Overkill. No Slayer, hell there would be no thrash at all.

Some people die while others live on. One thing is for certain I will miss these lads for all of my remaining days.

Thank you and God speed Ozzy and Ryno.

Why yes I do have Christmas lights up in my room at all times. this was given to me for a birthday by my son Adrian.

Recently both “Brick Meathook” and “ballsofstealandfury” were forced to meet me. You can ask either or both at your leisure what shirt I was wearing when I arrived and they both will answer the same.

It was of course a Black Sabbath T