Brad Hicks' Blog

Seems everywhere I go I hear, "Hey, you're a lot taller than you seem on TV" or "You're bigger than on TV."  

So earlier this week, when someone said they figured I was about 5'4", I figured I should set the record straight.   I'm 6'2", 218lbs.    Don't know if that's a surprise to you.  Don't know if you even care.  But there ya have it! 

Did you see Favre's news conference with the Jets today? 

Was it me, or did he look totally bummed?

When he held up that Jets jersey, he looked like he was hating it, and was ready to change his mind.

Do you think Brett is full of regret?

This "thing" washed up on a Long Island beach.  Lots of speculation about what it is.   What do you think?

I've been getting some ribbing for something that happened when I was covering Summerfest on opening night:   People have been teasing me that I was looking down a woman's shirt!!!

Well, I had no recollection of that, so I looked at the tape.  Yep.  That's what it looks like!

But if you watch the clip closely, and listen to what I'm saying, you'll see that I'm looking down and referring to the beer in her hand.   In reality-- it was so crazy there that night I never even saw the woman holding the cup.  

Of course, there will be a couple of you who say, "yeah, sure Brad. Likely story."     But I swear it's true!!!

City workers get criticized a lot, but Friday a couple of Milwaukee City employees showed what they're made of:

Someone snatched a woman's purse and she was screaming for help.  These two guys chased after the punk, caught him, and held him for police.   They were concerned the man might have a gun, but they went after him anyway.

I think the Mayor should give them a little recognition-- and how about a day off !!!

When I'm out on my bike rides the last few days, I've noticed a lot of turtles on the roads.  I guess the flooding forced them from their ponds.  

Poor little fellers don't stand much of a chance once they hit the road-- seen lots of squished ones too. 

Since Penny Marshall and Cindy Williams are expected to be in Milwaukee for the unveiling of the Fonze statue in August, I bring you the lyrics to the Laverne and Shirley theme song.

Making our Dreams Come True by Norman Gimbel & Charles Fox.  Sung by Cyndi Grecco

Spoken: One, two, three, four, five, six, seven, eight. Schlemeel, schlemazel, hasenfeffer incorporated. 
  
We’re gonna do it!
Give us any chance, we’ll take it.
Give us any rule, we’ll break it.
We’re gonna make our dreams come true.
Doin’ it our way.

Nothin’s gonna turn us back now, 
Straight ahead and on the track now.
We’re gonna make our dreams come true, 
Doin’ it our way.

There is nothing we won’t try,
Never heard the word impossible.
This time there’s no stopping us.
We’re gonna do it.

On your mark, get set, and go now,
Got a dream and we just know now,
We’re gonna make our dream come true.   
And we’ll do it our way, yes our way.
Make all our dreams come true,
And do it our way, yes our way,
Make all our dreams come true
For me and you.

Have you -- or anyone you know -- had any trouble with a generic drug, especially, but not limited to,  the generic forms of Wellbutrin and Toprol?? 

I'm interested in hearing from you!!!    Please email me directly so you don't have to post your medical information online:   brad.hicks@foxtv.com

Thanks!

How many miles per gallon do you get?    What if  you could double ot triple your MPG in the same car you drive now?  

Sunday night at 9, you'll see how people are doing it.  They have driving techniques that save them thousands of dollars a year on gas, and they don't have to cut back on how much they drive.

Don't believe me?  Want go guess how many miles one guy from Pewaukee got out of a single tank of gas (about 15 gallons)???

2,254 miles.  I kid you not.   2,254 miles from a single tank of gas.  I'll make you a believer-- Sunday at 9..

The crash that killed that mother and daughter in Oconomowoc just makes me sick.   Gee... a multiple offender behind the wheel, who just had his license revoked days before.  What a surprise.

Our Bryan Polcyn has done superb work exposing the impotence of Wisconsin's OWI laws.  We kick and scream when sex offenders get out and move into our neighborhoods, even when many of them have undergone extensive therapy.  Where's the similar outcry when it comes to repeat OWI offenders?   Where are the years in prison?   Where is the mandatory therapy? 

Revoking the license of someone who has a drug or alcohol addiction is about as useful as telling a sex offender we're going to take away his shoes.  When are Wisconsin's lawmakers going to get some balls and pass tougher OWI laws for repeat offenders?

And ya know what even grinds my gears more?  As I was thinking about this driving into work today, I ended up behind a drunk driver!!   The guy was going 65 in a 35, driving in the wrong lane into oncoming traffic then swerving over to the other side of the road and onto the gravel shoulder, and blowing stop signs.  I was on the phone with 911.  I really thought I was going to see someone get killed.   Finally, he stopped for a red light-- except he was halfway into the intersection when he stopped.  I swear, the guy was stopped in the middle of a busy intersection, oblivious.  The cops finally chased us down and got him.   What do you bet that won't be the last time that a--hole is drives drunk? 

By now you've probably heard the story--  an 11 year old Wisconsin girl dies from a treatable form of diabetes because her parents refuse to get medical care for her.   Instead, they prayed.  They believed their faith would heal her.

What do you think should happen to the parents-- and their other two children?

I had the pleasure of meeting an extraordinary person this morning: 

Linda Mastandrea can't walk-- not very well anyway.   She was born with Cerebral Palsy. 

Growing up, she was always left out during gym class.  Later, at the Univ. of Illinois, she struggled to get across campus from classroom to classroom--  The thought of using a wheelchair never dawned on her.

Then she fell and sprained her ankle.  During rehab, a man there kept encouraging her to get involved with the women's wheelchair basketball team.  Linda resisted.  After all, she didn't use a wheelchair, and she certainly was no athlete.  That point had been painfully drilled into her all those years she was left out during gym class.

Finally, she gave it a try.  She was terrible, but the man told her she had potential.   It was the first time in Linda's life anyone had told her she had potential.   So she came back for more.   Basketball ultimately led to wheelchair racing, and Linda's life would never be the same.  Her potential was realized.  

After years of training, Linda became the fastest woman in the world-- setting world records, winning international gold medals, and representing the United States in the Olympics.   I'm pretty sure no one in her gym classes growing up ever came anywhere near such accomplishments as an athlete. 

On Friday, we had a story about a 9 year old boy who stole some money from his parents.

His punishment?  They didn't ground him or make him do chores to pay the money back.  They made him stand on a street corner wearing a sign that said "I stole from my parents."  And of course, television cameras were there to drive the humiliation home.

The parents say they hope it will stop him from ever doing it again.

Your thoughts:  Appropriate or Outrageous?

I had a blast tasting dozens of pizzas for our TOP 6 earlier this month.  

I'm thinking about doing another TOP 6, and I'm taking suggestions!!!

What do you want me to try?  Best burgers?  Best custard?  Best ribs?  Best Steak?  (Those are just suggestions.)

It's wide open, so let me know what you want us to taste test for the TOP 6!!!