Steve Scott's Blog

I feel a little like a football coach. I'm going to have to cut some players.

Not real people, mind you. Bottles of wine.

Now that we're back from our California wine trip, some of the wine we bought out there (more than a case) and shipped back home is starting to arrive. We have a wine refrigerator that holds more than fifty bottles. That's the good news. The bad news...it was already nearly full, even before the stuff from California started arriving here.

Some one's not going to make the cut.

Jeanne and I are helping to alleviate the problem right now...by drinking a nice 2002 Niebaum-Coppola Edizione Pennino Zinfandel. This is one of the wines featured at last weekend's Niebaum-Coppola Fall Harvest Party.

But, we have a full wine cooler...and more than a case of wine on the way. We bought some good stuff in Napa. We have a half case of of this great Grgich Hills zin alone. Added to that shipment was one bottle of this excellent 1999 zin.

We mixed the rest of the shipment with wines - mostly zinfandels - from, among other places, Darioush, Coppola, Wilson, Rodney Strong and Ferrari-Carano.

So, some of the lesser wines in the refrigerator are receiving the indignity of being moved out of the cooler...and are now being stored elsewhere in the kitchen. The trouble is, we only have a few "lesser" wines...the rest of them are all pretty good. I guess this is a good problem to have.

If you're ever in the area, please stop by for a glass of wine. Please! We need the space! : )

Here are some photos from last night's Fall Harvest Party at the Niebaum-Coppola Winery in Rutherford, CA (near Napa). This is Jeanne and me sitting near the fountains on the winery grounds. It was a very nice night...although the Californians thought it was cool enough that they actually brought in portable heaters! Ha! They don't know what cold is!



Hey, why settle for just one glass...when you can have a whole barrel? This photo was taken inside the wine caves at Niebaum-Coppola. They're celebrating 125 years of winemaking at the estate. The winery name will change from Niebaum-Coppola to Rubicon Estate sometime early next year. I'm told Francis Ford Coppola wants less attention paid to his name...and more focus on the wines.


Here I am with my sister, Judy, and my brother, Bob. Judy and her husband, Dick, live near Tacoma, WA...Bob and his wife, Joetta, live in Novato, CA. This was a nice chance for all of us to get together.





Wine any one? I can only imagine how many bottles they went through at this party. In addition to the wine, they had lots of yummy food, too...everything from ribs and pasta to homemade pizzas and desserts.






This is our group at the Coppola party. (L-R) Me, Jeanne, Judy, Bob, Joetta, and friends Michael and Joanne Bordenet of Hoffman Estates, IL. Missing from the photo is Judy's husband, Dick.


I also picked up one of these for our Illinois News Broadcasters Association scholarship auction next month. It's a magnum of excellent Coppola cabernet sauvignon...with a DVD of the redux of Francis Ford Coppola's Apocalypse Now tucked into a "secret compartment" near the bottom of the bottle. I hope there's an Apocalypse Now fan - who also likes great wine - in the bidding audience!

We return home to Chicago on Tuesday.

Tonight (Wednesday), we head to California. Jeanne and I will meet up with my brother, Bob...sister, Judy...and their respective spouses, Joetta and Dick.

Among other things, we'll be attending the annual Fall Harvest Party at Francis Ford Coppola's Niebaum-Coppola winery in Rutherford, near Napa (see photo). Mr. Coppola was there last time we atteneded...we'll see about this year. It's good wine and a good time!

I'll be taking my laptop to California...but, I don't know how often I'll be posting here. We return to Chicago next Tuesday.

After what seems like years of build-up and hype, jury selection finally begins this morning, in the federal corruption trial of former Illinois Governor George Ryan.

Ryan is accused of taking cash and gifts for himself, in exchange for state contracts for his cronies...then lying about it to the feds...and not paying taxes on it to the IRS. The allegations date back to Ryan's days as Illinois Secretary of State.

Ryan has maintained his innocence (Hell no, I didn't know about it!)...and says he plans to testify in his own defense. We'll see about that.

It could be an interesting four months. Stay tuned...

These are just a few photos from today's derailment of a Metra commuter rail train on Chicago's south side. The train was on its way from Joliet into downtown Chicago, when it left the track at 47th and Federal Streets.

Two people were killed in the crash...more than 80 were injured. It was the first fatal accident in Metra's history. The most serious injuries appeared to be in one car (the one where the tarp is being set up for the removal of the deceased victim).

Strangely, I helped with the investigation. I was snooping around an abandoned building near the tracks, when I found...a train axle! No one else had spotted it...but it was easy to see what had happened. The axle had broken loose...then rolled around 100 feet over another set of rail tracks...plowed through a chain link fence...went down an embankment...and then smacked into the building. It was pretty well hidden...had I not been snooping around back there, they may not have found it right away. Within five minutes of my discovery, a rail crew hauled the big axle away.


I filed numerous reports on WLS...and also did many live shots on ABC News Radio. I was the lead story - reporting live from the scene - for several hours. ABC seems to have been happy with the job I did.

This certainly was not the worst train wreck I've ever seen (that would have been the deadly Bourbonnais Amtrak crash from a few years ago)...but, it was pretty bad. And, sadly...deadly.

Although today was supposed to be a routine day for me anchoring newscasts during our Notre Dame football coverage on WLS, it turned out to be a pretty busy day. I'm always glad when I can go out into the field and report. Although I enjoy anchoring the news on Don and Roma's show, I really love reporting from the field.

(photos courtesy Chicago Sun-Times)

So, Reuters puts out this pic on their photo wire. It reportedly shows President Bush at the United Nations...writing a note to Secretary of State Condoleezza Rice, advising her that he may need a bathroom break.

Okay, first of all...of all the photos that were taken of the president at the UN, they decided to put this one out on the wire?

Second...are we sure that's really the president?

Third...it's nice to see that photogs - with their big zoom lenses - can snoop on what the President of the United States is writing. Thankfully, he was just asking for a bathroom break...and not a declaration of war against North Korea.

And, finally...I hope Condi let the poor fellow go pee. I mean, when you gotta go...you gotta go.

Bulls guard Chris Duhon held a fundraiser tonight at Bella Lounge on State Parkway, to benefit his hurricane-ravaged hometown of Slidell, Louisiana. Slidell is located just north of New Orleans. It was hit hard by Hurricane Katrina. Many homes still have several feet of water in them.

Chris has already raised more than $800,000 for Slidell through the Stand Tall Foundation. He's now holding clothing drives around the Chicago area...and will ride to Slidell with the trucks on Tuesday.

Jeanne and I went to the fundraiser...not just so I could interview Chris for our WLS news, but also to support his cause. He's a wealthy young man, who could easily have his "people" take care of this stuff...but Chris is rolling up his sleeves and doing the work himself. The only "peep" Chris hung out with tonight was his delightful mom, Vivian.

For more information on how you can help Chris Duhon help the people of his hurricane-ravaged hometown, click here.

The Illinois Supreme Court today rejected without comment a petition by the Illinois News Broadcasters Association (of which I am president) and several partners...asking for cameras and microphones in the Illinois trial courts.

This is a crushing below to public access and good journalism in our state.

The Supreme Court didn't just deny the petition. They actually underlined the word "DENIED" for good measure. Ouch.

I'll have more later...but, this is very disappointing news for the journalists of Illinois.

This year marks the 20th anniversary of the Chicago Bears Super Bowl XX championship season.

While there are all sorts of anniversary events going on, this may be the goofiest of them all.

There's a corn maze in Spring Grove, Illinois, honoring the Bears' last Super Bowl winners.

Good grief.

As promised, here are some photos of me with United Nations Secretary-
General Kofi Annan and U.S. Ambassador John Bolton.

Here I am having a brief discussion with Kofi Annan at a reception for John Bolton. I don't recall exactly what I said...but, I do remember that about all Annan did was nod his head politely.







Here I am sticking my nose into a brief group discussion with Kofi Annan. I don't remember to whom Annan was speaking...but, I'm reasonably certain I did not add anything tangible to the discussion!








Here I am with U.S. Ambassador John Bolton. Despite his reputation as being mean, tough, standoff-ish or whatever, Bolton seemed fairly relaxed at this reception. He didn't seem to have a problem stopping to chat with me for a moment.



I don't recall what Bolton and I were talking about...but, whatever it was, I seemed to make him smile! Bolton's press secretary has offered to get the ambassador on our WLS morning show with Don and Roma. That will likely happen in the next week or so...after the big UN summit in New York.


A special thanks to my friend Tran Bui of ABC24 in Memphis for sending these photos. Tran took some great pics!

Our second day at the RTNDF/UN Foundation workshop at the United Nations was very busy. The highlight of the day came over lunch, when Secretary-General Kofi Annan spoke to our group. To the surprise of just about every one - including his own handlers - Annan agreed to take a couple questions on the record. And, of course, being the tallest and loudest, I got in one of the two questions:

"Mr. Secretary, should the confidence our listeners and viewers have in the United Nations be at all eroded by the contents of this week's Volcker report? (which alleges widespread fraud, smuggling, mismanagement and other wrong-doings in the UN's Oil for Food program)

I got a good answer out of him, too. Some of those sound bites were sent to ABC News Radio. They were pretty much exclusive. Only our group got them...and I was the only radio person in a position to file immediately.

Here I am in front of a somewhat famous sculpture on the UN grounds. If I understand correctly, the sculpture is that of "our broken world being repaired by the UN.'

Yesterday ended with a group of five of us wandering around town...including dinner at a pizza joint on 42nd Street...a look at the amazing sites and sounds of Times Square...a visit to the top of the Empire State Building (pretty cool at night)...and then dessert and a Guiness at an Irish pub not far from our hotel. Thanks to Tran Bui of ABC24 in Memphis for telling the waitress that my birthday was the other day. They brought me a NY cheesecake with a candle in it!

It was a great whirlwind two days. I learned a lot about the UN, made some great new friends, reconnected with some existing friends, and even made a little money off ABC! It was especially nice to see RTNDA President Barbara Cochran of Washington DC and RTNDA Chairman Dan Shelley of Milwaukee. They are two rock-solid leaders for our profession.

I'll be getting many more pictures that other people from our group took...including me shaking hands with both Kofi Annan and John Bolton. I'll post some pics here when I get them.

Now, it's time to pack up and head home to Chicago...more later!

I'm in New York for a Radio-Television News Directors Foundation workshop at the United Nations. We've had a very busy schedule.

We started our day with a breakfast meeting with new UN Ambassador John Bolton. He spoke on the record a bit...took a few questions that were basically off the record...and then left. He didn't really say a whole lot that made news for us...but, it was nice of him to show up to visit with us.

Here I am right outside the United Nations Building. It wasn't hard to find...it's right across the street from my hotel. I guess I should have straightened my name tag, huh?






It was pretty cool to get to go inside the UN Security Council chamber. Here I am standing at the U.S. position at the Security Council table. Not too many people get to go in there.


Tonight, we attended a reception for Ambassador Bolton hosted by the UN Foundation. I didn't have my camera at the reception...but, one of my colleagues here, Tran Bui of ABC24 in Memphis, took a couple of photos of me chatting with Bolton. Then, Secretary-General Kofi Annan showed up, and Tran took a picture of me talking with Annan, too. Tran's going to email me the pics next week..I'll post them when I get them!

Tomorrow...Kofi Annan joins us for a brief, but on the record, chat.

This the view from outside my window on the 37th floor of the Millennium UN Plaza Hotel, taken shortly after dawn this morning.

That's the Empire State Building on the left, and the Chrysler Building on the right.

It was nice to meet up with old friends - and make some new ones - at last night's reception and dinner.

Gotta run...we have an early breakfast with the new U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations, John Bolton.

Wednesday morning, I'm off to New York City...for an intensive three-day working seminar at the United Nations.

It will be a busy workshop, with a jam-packed agenda. Of special interest to me are interview opportunities with Secretary-General Kofi Annan and Ambassador John Bolton. I'm hoping some news will be made, to allow me to file stories back to WLS (and, if necessary, ABC). Plus, the independent Oil for Food report is due out Wednesday...so, some news may be generated there, too.

Since I'll have my laptop with me in New York, I may be able to post some updates here. We'll see...there may not be a lot of free time. I'll return to Chicago late in the day on Saturday.

On another note...some have asked why I haven't made my way down to the Hurricane Katrina disaster zone yet. There are a few reasons...previous commitments and the fact that I wasn't really needed there top the list. But, my time may be coming. More on that in the near future.

Okay, just a doggone minute!

Frequent Steve-reader - and fellow radio rascal - Sarah Harnisch posted the following comment on the Rehnquist thread below:

Congratulations to Tim and Laura (Spencer) Allen on their marriage. Tim is associate producer of the morning show at WLS. Laura is a dance therapist. They were married September 3rd in Toledo. Jeanne and I were happy to be in attendance.

The wedding ceremony was very nice...and included the first reference to "God in the can" by a priest that I can recall!



Jeanne and me at the wedding reception. No, it's not a great photo (I should have taken off the jacket!)...but, it will do. The reception was very nice...and included a mini - or not so mini - reunion of Tim and Laura's many friends from their alma mater, Denison University.




After the wedding and reception, Jeanne and I had an extra day...so we decided to venture up into Canada. We went through Detroit and Windsor...and ended up in the quaint little fishing village of Port Stanley, Ontario. It's on Lake Erie, about half way between Detroit and Buffalo. It's a cute little town.



This is me next to one of the many commercial fishing boats that are docked in Port Stanley. This is a somewhat better photo than the one at the reception! We spent one night in Port Stanley...that was plenty to see everything in town, I think. We stayed at a cute little B&B called the Kettle Creek Inn.

We had a very nice trip...and the side jaunt to Ontario made it seem like an extra little vacation for us.

Next up for me...on to New York and the United Nations tomorrow!

Chief Justice William Rehnquist dead at the age of 80.

Rehnquist will be difficult to replace. Things are about to get interesting for President Bush.

Who will be the next Chief Justice? Clarence Thomas?

Oh, and I loved the four stripes on the sleeves of his robe!

Jeanne and I head to Toledo today...for the wedding of WLS morning show associate producer Tim Allen and the lovely Laura Spencer. I'm bringing the laptop...but I don't know if I'll be updating this blog while we're gone.

Have a safe and happy holiday weekend!

I'd like to hear your thoughts on the news media's coverage of Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath.

Has it been good? Bad? Over the top? Not enough?

Is the the media focusing too much on the looters? Should we be looking harder for good news?

Please leave your thoughts.