9 Things You (Probably) Don't Know About Me

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

A friend of mine has challenged me to a Facebook game we played last year where you reveal a certain number of facts about yourself that people don't know.  I like the idea, but decided to take it a step further and blog about it (inside joke).  He gave me the number nine, and one thing he wanted to know is what's my oldest t-shirt.

My oldest shirt

1.  The oldest t-shirt that I have and still wear is my Iron Sheik and Nikolai Volkoff shirt.  I got it as a birthday gift in 1987.  I was in 8th grade.  The shirt fits me, but you can read the newspaper through it.  I wear it now as an undershirt to Wrestlemania, however I did wear it under my tuxedo on my wedding day.  My wife hated that and still hates the shirt.

2.  I cannot stand having my hands wet.  Washing them is fine, but after being in the shower, swimming pool, or lake, I have to put on hand cream.  My favorite kind was Care Deeply with coco butter by Avon, but a few years ago they stopped making it.  Now I use something from Walmart which works pretty well.

3.  Honey mustard is my current favorite condiment.

4.  I had to wait two months to get my drivers license because I failed a quarter of Human Anatomy and Physiology my sophomore year in high school.  Of course this all happened days before my 16th birthday.  Once I brought up my grade, my parents took me to get my license.  I passed on the first try with a 72 (you needed a 70 or better).

#@!*

5.  One time I dropped the F bomb on live TV.  It's been more than 15 years and I'm pretty sure the statute of limitations has expired, plus the evidence was immediately destroyed.  (I'll go into greater detail soon.)

6.  I have never locked my keys in the car.

How I felt during an art history final...

7.  While taking my final in Art History in college I farted out loud and it echoed in my chair.  The sound broke the silence of the classroom and I turned a bright shade of red as I could feel dozens of eyeballs staring at me.

8.  The one and only time I smoked a cigarette was my senior year in high school  I did it out of curiosity and ended up puking right after I did it.  I really had no desire to do it before and definitely not after.

The night Hulk lost
Photo courtesy: WWE

9.  I cried like a baby the first time Hulk Hogan lost the WWF championship to Andre the Giant on The Main Event.

Wanna play along?  Like this on Facebook and I'll give you a number too.

Wage Hope: The Fight Against Pancreatic Cancer

Wage Hope!

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents Twitter

November 13 is World Pancreatic Cancer Day.  It's a time to raise awareness about this deadly disease by wearing purple.  I hope that it will spark a conversation because quite frankly, more needs to be done in fighting pancreatic cancer.

Right now the five year survival rate is just six percent.  That blows my mind.  It's a hard disease to detect and once it's found it's often too late.  The Pancreatic Cancer Action Network hopes to double survival rates by 2020. They have just over five years to do that.  Raising awareness about the disease and funding research is critical.  Even still, 12 percent is still a long way from 100, but it's a step in the right direction.

The late Patrick Swayze

We've seen well known celebrities like Patrick Swayze, Steve Jobs, and Luciano Pavarotti bravely battle, but ultimately die from pancreatic cancer.  I have a personal connection to the disease.  In late 2001 my Aunt Rita was diagnosed with it.  She put up a good fight, but sadly we lost her in January 2002.  She was only 52 years old.

Grandma, mom, and Aunt Rita in 1980 something

Not only was Rita my aunt, she was also my Godmother.  She was always soft spoken and very loving to both me and my brother. We'd spend time with her and my uncle and cousins every Christmas, Thanksgiving, Easter, and various family birthdays. When we were younger there were camping trips and adventures to Silver Dollar City.

When I hear the news of someone being diagnosed with pancreatic cancer, I think of Aunt Rita.  I remember the sadness we all felt when she passed away and how I wish there was no such thing as cancer.  But here's the deal, cancer exists.  Sweet, loving, and caring people, even little kids will die from it.  But there are many survivors too.  We have to talk more about all types of cancer and help the men and women working toward a cure.  Without the hope that one day six percent will double and gradually climb, we have nothing.  I encourage you to wear purple on November 13 and support the cause monetarily if you're able.

Here are a few other resources on pancreatic cancer:
Walk With The Dogs
The American Cancer Society
The Purple Page

The Return of the Voice

Jim Ross, good ol' JR
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

No, I'm not talking about the singing show on NBC.  I'm sure it's still on the air, but I don't watch.  What I'm talking about today is the big news that Jim Ross is returning to the world of professional wrestling.  Known by this generation as "The Voice" of the WWE (or wrestling in general really), JR is set to call a pay per view after the start of the new year.

Global Force Wrestling and New Japan Pro Wrestling announced that Ross will do play by play for Wrestle Kingdom 9.  It's set for January 4, 2015 in Japan.  People here in the United States can watch through a variety of cable and satellite options at 2 a.m. EST. According to GFW's website, you can also watch via the Flipps app on iTunes and Android.

Mick Foley & JR
Photo courtesy: WWE

I'm excited that JR is going to be involved with the show.  I've missed him on Monday Night Raw and WWE pay per views.  He brings a level of intensity and professionalism to the industry that quite frankly hasn't been close to being duplicated anywhere else.  His ability to tell a story during a match is unbeatable.  Since he's left the WWE, I've been a regular listener and big fan of The Ross Report on Podcast One. 

This event is still a couple of months away.  I'll be honest, it's been the most exciting news to come from GFW since Jeff and Karen Jarrett announced the promotion earlier this year.  I truly hope that it's a show that focuses more on wrestling and less on the entertainment.  I don't think anyone will knock Vince McMahon and company from the throne, but I'm still waiting for someone to lay claim to the second in command spot. 

Good luck to JR, the Jarretts, GFW, and NJPW.  Fans have something to be excited about in 2015.  Thank you for that.

Harry Potter's Magic Spell on Universal Studios

Outside Flourish & Blotts

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

Harry Potter first entered our lives in 2007.  My oldest son had just started second grade when my wife read him "Harry Potter & The Sorcerer's Stone."  I didn't pick up the books until the last one was released, but got hooked quickly.  We'd read the book and then see the movie.  We got caught up by the time Half Blood Prince was released in theaters and actually saw it on the big screen.

Butterbeer break

Four years ago, our family ventured to Universal Studios in Orlando, where we were in awe of the Wizarding World of Harry Potter.  A portion of Islands of Adventure has been transformed into Hogsmeade and Hogwarts.  Rides like the Harry Potter & The Forbidden Journey, Flight of the Hippogriff, and Dragon Challenge add to the excitement of all the shops, including Honeydukes Sweetshop and Ollivander's Wand Shop.  There are places to get your fill of Pumpkin Juice, Butterbeer, and Gillywater.  It's the ultimate place for Harry Potter fans.

Waiting for the Hogwarts Express

Earlier this year, the Wizarding World expanded into the Universal Studios side of the part.  Now, you can hop aboard the Hogwarts Express and take it back and forth, assuming you have a ticket to both parks.  The train ride is reminiscent of the movies, it's by far the most relaxing of the five Potter themed rides at the park.

In the bank lobby 

Speaking of other rides, the only other new ride added with the addition is Escape from Gringotts.  Because it's a new attraction, the wait time was between 60 and 90 minutes (in October), although on our last day there, we went straight to that ride when the park opened.  Our wait time that morning was about 40 minutes.  It's a 3-D thrill ride with twists and turns, but not nearly as jostling as the Forbidden Journey ride.  But a little kid did barf on the way out and right in the path of where people were walking.

The dragon 

On top of Gringotts bank is a giant fire-breathing dragon.  Almost like clockwork every 10 minutes, a ball of fire shoots from his mouth.  There are plenty of stores along Diagon Alley, including Florean Fortescue's Ice Cream Parlour,  Weasley's Wizard Wheezes, and the Leaky Cauldron.  We ate lunch at the Cauldron, and although pricey, it was delicious.  I had the Bangers and Mash.  The one interesting thing is there are no basic drinks in the restaurant.  It's all Pumpkin Juice, Butterbeer, or Gillywater (which is a bottle of water with a $4.25 price tag).  You won't find a soda on the menu.  After we sat down and started eating, we were offered a complimentary cup of water.

Working her magic

One of the other really cool parts of the whole Wizarding World Experience now is the interactive wands they sell in addition to the usual collector's wands.  These interactive wands can be used at the various store fronts (that have a special marking in front of them) and the holder of the wand can perform some magical task.  A sensor in the window reacts to the sensor in the wand to make things happen.  There's a cake topper that dances around, a tape measurer that comes unrolled, among other things.  It's neat, but again, an added price of about $50 per wand.

Don't touch wands

Compared to most of the other attractions and experiences at Universal, it's obvious Harry Potter and his posse are breathing new life into the theme park.  They've managed to cast a spell on my family and millions of others.  While not on the same level of Disney's magic, the folks who built this portion of the park have done a great job.

The Nerd Behind Nerd Shirt Thursday

Nerd Shirt Thursday

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

This is a long overdue entry, as we've been doing Nerd Shirt Thursday at my work for about six months now.  It's a concept (now former) News 3 This Morning producer Weston "Dub Dub" White came up with.  The premise is simple.  Each Thursday coworkers are encouraged to wear a "nerd" shirt to work.  Because I can't wear tshirts on the air, I always wear mine under my shirt and tie.  After the show each week, we take a pic to share with the world.

Weston as Capt. America

So what's a nerd shirt?  Pretty much anything with a comic book character, movie, or pop culture reference.  The rules aren't too strict, but the nerdier the better, especially if you can accessorize.  It's something that has gained momentum in the newsroom and my Facebook friends wait each week to see who will be featured on our chests next.  As I mentioned Weston came up with the idea and we've carried it out in the weeks since his departure from WSIL.  I'm going to use the rest of this blog to talk more about my friend.

Ugly Christmas Sweater Day 2011

I met Weston when he joined News 3 This Morning in July 2010.  It didn't take long to become friends, especially after he professed his love for wrestling and The Simpsons.  He came into the job already "getting it."  He's a natural writer and understands the facets involved in putting together a newscast.  I remember my coanchor Emily Eddington and I came up with a list of things to help ease him into the position, but we never even gave it to him.  He already understood what to do, and this was his first TV gig.

Wrasslin' 

I literally laughed every day that Weston was at work.  Many times it was a loud belly laugh that produced tears.  Sometimes this happened on the air, depending on what he was saying in our ear pieces.  Of course when the work was done, there was always a little time for horseplay.  As I mentioned, he too is a wrestling fan and more than once I found myself getting picked up and flung around the room.  I'd be interested to see if there are any other producer/anchor combos like this in newsrooms across America.

The Shopping Ninja

It wasn't just behind the scenes that we had the fun.  Weston brought new ideas that made for great television as well.  In 2011 he found someone willing to come in and instruct Emily on how to zap me with a taser live on the air.  It's still one of the most memorable moments of my career.  He's dressed like "The Shopping Ninja" in preparation for Black Friday and was the brain child behind "The Morning News Anchor Challenge", a good concept, but unfortunately ended up getting shelved after three days.

Imitation is the sincerest form of flattery...

He created a cartoon character named Humphrey, started doing "Wrestling Banana Art", and even dressed like me for Halloween one year.  Weston is a unique guy, an outstanding producer, and even better friend.  This blog merely scratches the surface.  You can see from the pics, that we always had a good time.  I miss him, but I know he's doing well in the next chapter of his life.  Thanks for the memories Dub Dub.

Don't Pull the Plug on Tag Team Wrestling

The Usos vs. Gold & Stardust
Photo courtesy: WWE

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I'm going to admit first and foremost I have not been paying as close attention to wrestling as I would like to.  Sometimes life gets in the way of fun and entertainment and things get lost in the shuffle.  I do watch Raw on a regular basis and I keep up with the pay per views via the WWE Network.  I even went back and did some research so I'm basing my opinions on facts and not just what I perceive to be the truth.

Ten teams do battle at Survivor Series 1987
Photo courtesy: WWE

I love tag team wrestling.  Looking back on the very first (and second) Survivor Series events, there were ten viable tag teams on the roster.  Ten.  I don't know if I could name ten viable tag teams over the past couple of years, much less that would be on hand for one pay per view match.  The days of duos like Demolition, The British Bulldogs, and the Hart Foundation are long gone.  Now we have quick, put together-at-the-last-second combos out there.

Star & Goldust
Photo courtesy: WWE

Right now on the current main roster the Usos and Gold & Stardust are really the only two active teams I see anymore.  Los Matadores are sporadically used and I'm assuming the Wyatt Family will soon be back in action, but let's look back on the calendar year.

Cody Rhodes and Goldust lost the tag team titles to the New Age Outlaws at the Royal Rumble.  Yes, a team that hadn't competed together on WWE programming in 14 years made a comeback.  It was brief and nostalgic, so I'm not complaining.  I'm really not.  

Wrestlemania XXX Kickoff
Photo courtesy: WWE

At Extreme Rules, the now defunct duo of RybAxel beat the Cody and Goldie and the Usos wrestled the NAO.  There was a fatal four way that was the kickoff to Wrestlemania XXX.  Los Matadores and The Real Americans (also no longer together) were a part of that. There was also a six man tag featuring the Shield against NAO and Kane.

There were no tag team matches at Extreme Rules, but another six man with the Shield against Evolution.  Payback saw that rematch and a rematch between RybAxel and Cody & Goldust.  The Usos beat the Wyatts at Money in the Bank and the newly revamped Star and Goldust took on RybAxel (again).

The Wyatts vs. the Usos
Photo courtesy: WWE

Battleground featured a rematch between the Usos and the Wyatts. There were no tag team matches at SummerSlam.  We saw Gold & Stardust take on the Usos at Night of Champions and Hell in a Cell.  

Now that we're up to speed, you can see there's a huge lack of depth in the tag team pool.  Sure there were a few more makeshift teams through the year, including Big Show and Mark Henry who are now enemies, and Damien Mizdow and the Miz seem to be on the verge of a split too.  Reviewing the WWE roster, there are so many guys on it now that aren't on TV, I scratch my head wondering why they're not being put to use.  

Woods, Kingston, Big E
Photo courtesy: WWE

For a bit we were being teased with a faction of Xavier Woods, Kofi Kingston, and Big E.  I think it's a move that would benefit all three men and give fans something fresh in terms of a new team.  I thought Tyson Kidd and Justin Gabriel had good chemistry prior to Tyson's injury and time away.  I'm reluctant to suggest others from NXT because I fear without the proper introduction, they'll be lost in the shuffle (see Fandango, Big E, and Adam Rose among others.)

I think the tag teams that are currently being used do an amazing job, but week after week of tag team or six man tag team matches featuring the same guys gets a little old after a while.  Let's give the division a breath of fresh air and mix things up a bit.

Life is Too Short for Bad Coffee

The News 3 This Morning gang in 2012

By Kevin Hunsperger
@kevinhunsperger & @my123cents on Twitter

I still remember the first time I ever stepped into Crossroads Coffee Company in Carterville.  While I don't recall the exact year, I can tell you it was before Dan Gentz and his family bought the place.  The menu didn't even exist back then.  They only had coffee and pastries.  I was meeting a colleague with the Men's Health Conference to discuss our upcoming event and I had hot chocolate and a chocolate chip cookie.

I didn't think much of that first visit.  Sure the hot chocolate and cookie were good, but I did not drink coffee at the time, and didn't anticipate going back anytime soon.  Little did I know Crossroads would become my favorite place to eat in southern Illinois in a short period of time.

Adventures in eating fresh

My friends and coworkers on the morning show at WSIL used to go to Subway every Friday.  We'd leave the station at 9 a.m. for a break, and we didn't want bacon and eggs.  Since we all got up in the middle of the night, we were ready for sandwiches and pizza by that hour of the day.  We alternated with trips to Dairy Queen as well, just to add some variety to our Friday morning "Happy Hours."

I remember scrolling through my Facebook feed in late 2011 and seeing a picture of a hamburger posted by Crossroads.  It was the Crossroads Burger and it looked delicious.  I commented on the pic, asking if it was served at any time or just during lunch hours.  I was excited when the response was "you can get lunch anytime you want here."

They loved us there!

It took little convincing to swap our Subway/DQ trips with a visit to Crossroads.  After that first Friday we were hooked.  We went there every week, sometimes stopping in more than once.  Many of us visited with other friends and family members too.  Sadly, on October 31, 2014, Dan and his crew served their last cups of coffee and delicious food.

The first Kevin HunsBurger in 2013

You've probably read or at least heard about my story on the Kevin HunsBurger.  If not, click here for the details.  Long story short, on a Friday morning in late 2012, Dan joked with us about creating a burger in my name.  By January 2013, it was on the menu, and two bucks from each one sold went to the American Cancer Society.  I ate the very first one they served and I'm honored to say I had the very last as well.  

The last HunsBurger

Dan and his crew always treated the morning team right.  I can't put in to words how much I appreciate the way everyone there made us feel like Crossroads was our place.  It really was a happy hour (or hour and a half) for us.  The food was always top notch and there were enough menu options to keep anyone from getting bored.  Tables were reserved for us, which was great on busy mornings. Crossroads became a sponsor of a wrestling endeavor I was a part of at one point.  They also donated items for various charity events and helped people in the community anytime they were asked.

The team in 2014

I know Dan, Lisa, Taylor, and the rest of the Crossroads gang will do well in their future endeavors. I've never felt more important at a place of business in southern Illinois than when I was at Crossroads.  I think my friends would agree with that.  Thanks for the many memories.  You hold a special place in our hearts.