Category Archives: EYG Blog

Jack Marlowe RIP

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My little town of Maquoketa, Iowa recently lost a legend as John Frederick Marlowe, known as Jack, passed away Saturday morning, October 4th.

Jack was an icon in this area. One of the most beloved individuals I have ever met. Jack wrote for the Maquoketa Sentinel-Press, the local newspaper, for decades, as a sportswriter. Jack had a love for sports and a head for stats and number that was unmatched. His encyclopedic knowledge of local sports was amazing. Just talking with Jack about high school sports was an experience where you would always come out amazed.

Jack would be embarrassed with that last paragraph because he was one of the most humble people I have ever had the pleasure to know. He would laugh it off, with that loud and bombastic laugh, and redirect the discussion away from himself. It was not in Jack’s nature to make anything about himself. It was yet one more appealing trait of him.

Every time I would see Jack, he would greet me with a big smile and he’d ask me about my own coaching, especially when I was coaching the team sponsored by the newspaper. Jack was always so kind and genuine, that you knew that he was truly interested in what you had to say.

I felt honored to have played basketball in the Marlowe barn, adding my name to the wall with a list of unbelievable people. Sadly, the barn no longer existed, but the memories will always be there.

Jack worked at the Maquoketa Sentinel Press for 55 years, including writing his own column “Sports Slants” in which Jack mentioned me a few times (which was always such a thrill). Even when he retired as an active sportswriter, Jack would continue with his column. Retirement was not something Jack did well. I remember seeing Jack delivering Sentinel-Press newspapers to local gas stations. He wanted to remain active.

Jack was an award winning writer and a local legend. The town held him in such high esteem that he was inducted into the Maquoketa High School Hall of Fame in 2016 and the Maquoketa Community High School Athletic Complex, which included baseball/softball fields and a track, was named the Jack Marlowe Athletic Complex in his honor.

The plague at the Jack Marlowe Athletic Complex read,  “A 1953 Maquoketa High School Graduate, Hall of Fame Sportswriter and lifelong resident of Jackson County who dedicated his life to highlighting the accomplishments of others while avoiding the spotlight for himself.”

Jack Marlowe loved this community almost as much as the community loved him. He will be missed. Rest in peace, Jack.

Clayton Kershaw

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I am sitting here watching the LA Dodgers playing the Seattle Mariners in the final regular season game of the 2025 season. Both teams have clinched births in the playoffs so there was little to play for. However, there was a major reason this game was a must see.

This would be the final time Clayton Kershaw would step on a mound for a regular season game.

Clayton Kershaw announced his retirement a few weeks ago, after spending 18 years pitching for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Against the Mariners today, Clayton has gone 5 1/3 innings pitched, 0 earned runs, 7 strikeouts, 4 hits and 1 walk. He left the game with a 4-0 lead, with a chance to get one more win, which would be his 223rd in his career.

At the end of the 5th inning, it felt as if Kershaw was going to be done, but he went back out for the sixth inning. First batter he faced was Seattle’s Eugenio Suarez, who had 49 home runs this season. Kershaw struck him out and out came Freddie Freeman.

Freeman had already been taken out of the game after he had homered and he was coming out as a friend to take Clayton Kershaw out of the game. It was a beautiful moment. Freddie tried to take the ball, but Clayton wouldn’t give it to him. He was keeping that ball. The Seattle crowd gave him a remarkable ovation and the camera followed him into the dugout.

Dodger manager Dave Roberts met Clayton before heading into the dugout for a big hug.

Coming into the game, Clayton Kershaw has a record of 222-96, which is an amazing W-L percentage. His career ERA was 2.54, and his career WHIP is 1.02. He recently joined the 3000 career strikeout club, perhaps the final pitcher to ever do it. He is a three-time Cy Young Award winner and an 11-time All-Star. He has been on two World Series winning teams. He is a surefire Hall of Famer.

I have to say that I had a lot of emotions watching Clayton Kershaw walk off that mound for the final time in the regular season. I had some tears in my eyes. He has been one of the biggest stars on my favorite team for years, and his loyalty and dedication to the Dodgers, in an era where players rarely stick with one team for their entire career, is amazing.

I felt as if the moment was so large for me that I needed to write about it. I hope Clayton pitches again in the post season, though he will not be on the Wild Card series roster. If the Dodgers advance, I expect Clayton Kershaw out on that mound again.

(By the way, it is currently 5-0 in the top of the 8th. Shohei Ohtani hit his 55th homer).

EYG 2025: The October 13

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It is almost that time again. Every October, EYG creates a list of thirteen horror/thriller movies that we have not yet seen. This list is the October 13! I watch and review these thirteen Halloween-type movies over the month of October.

The biggest movie on the list this year is the original Final Destination, which may be the first film watched.

This will be the running list of the films that are part of 2025’s The October 13.

The October 13

  1. Final Destination (2000)

2. The Devil on Trial (2023)

3. Dangerous Animals (2025)

4. House on Haunted Hill (1999)

5. Scare Me (2020)

6. The Devil’s Candy (2015)

7. Strange Frequencies: Taiwan Killer Hospital (2024)

8. Terrifier (2016)

9. Hell House LLC II: The Abaddon Hotel (2018)

10. Isle of the Dead (1945)

11. Vampyr (1932)

12. The Uninspired (2009)

13. Terrifier 2 (2022)

SiouxperCon Sunday- Day Three

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I am finally back in Maquoketa, Iowa from my trip to Sioux Falls, South Dakota to attend the SiouxperCon Comic Convention.

So day three of my first ever comic convention experience came and went. Todd and I did not intend on spending any money on the third day… a goal that we both failed at.

Sunday was much lower key with fewer bodies everywhere, and that was nice.

I got to see Keith Champagne once again. I really liked him. Tom Nguyen finally arrived today and signed some books for me.

I had a TON of books signed by the comic creators and we had some fun watching the cosplayers. There was one girl dressed as the Lorax sitting at the resting table. As I was walking across, I saw her there and I thought to myself, “Someone is dressed as Hulk Hogan.” Orange with bug yellow mustache… it was a funny moment. I wish I had a picture. There were not as many as the day before, but it was still worth it.

I am happy I went, but glad to be home. I am way behind on the TV and movies reviews and I have So MANY comics to read for the Comic Cavalcade… ooooh

SiouxperCon Saturday-Day Two

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After a stop off in Fort Dodge, Iowa on Friday night, we made our way to the Sioux Falls Convention Center in Sioux Falls, South Dakota for our first, but officially the second, day of Siouxper Con.

Speeding along the roads of South Dakota at 80 + MPH was somewhat stressful, but Todd and I arrived around 10:50.

The con was underway and we dove right into getting books signed and finding some new gems. Todd introduced me to several comic creators that he knew from years of convention hopping, which helped ease the anxiety of the moment.

Some highlights: I spent much of the day hanging out at Keith Champagne’s booth. Keith was one of the best guys I got to meet and he made me feel extremely welcome and respected.

I loved getting to speak to some of the creators and to express how much I loved some of their work. There were a couple of moments that stand out. One was when I told Zander Cannon how much I love Sleep. I told him it was one of the most original ideas in comics. Another one was when Kyle Higgins and I were talking about No/One. He asked me if I listened to the podcast. When I told him that I loved the podcast, you could see how much it meant to him. He told me that he is directing a movie version of No/One that excited me to no end. These moments shone in these creators eyes. You could see the sincere gratitude they held for my words. That made me happy.

The big moment came when we got to meet Gail Simone. She was so awesome and I got a cool foul Batman comic that was remarkably rare. Gail made me feel right at home. I also picked up a script she wrote for an issue of Savage Wolverine. So epic!

It was so fun watching all of the cosplayers at the con. We saw representations of Marvel heroes, DC heroes, movie heroes and villains, anime characters and much more.

I really enjoyed my discussion with Eliot Rahal, who had his daughter, Olive with him. I watched them approach an animatronic fox (I can’t remember its name. It was dressed as a king). It was a wholesome moment that I am pleased to have witnessed.

Day two was not perfect. I am tired of walking and we just did not have enough comic retailers with back issues for sale, but there was so much joy and engagement that any drawbacks were minimal!