Steve Scott's Blog

ABC World News Tonight co-anchor Bob Woodruff and his cameraman, Doug Vogt, have been seriously wounded by an IED (bomb) near Baghdad. As of this writing, both Woodruff and Vogt are out of surgery and in stable condition.

You can get the very latest information here.

No one ever said covering a war was easy...or safe. But, journalists need to be there to serve as the eyes and ears for the rest of the world. Many of you know that I have been working to try to get to Iraq to do stories on Illinois servicemen and women. This incident, while certainly sobering, does not weaken my resolve to try to get over there and spotlight the work our Illinois service personnel are doing.

A quick footnote about the Woodruff/Vogt incident...ironically, Bob Woodruff and his family were close friends with NBC's David Bloom, who died of a blood clot while on assignment in Iraq in 2003.

Congratulations to WLS talk host Eileen Byrne on her engagement to her long-time beau, Jeff.

Eileen and Jeff got engaged over the weekend in Florida.

Both are great people...I wish them many years of happiness!

I don't know what was in the water at the United Center Wednesday night...but the Bulls/Knicks game was one of the strangest I've seen in a long time.

It was like Friday the 13th, New Year's Eve and a full moon...all rolled into one.

First, the Bulls' Chris Duhon - one of the nicest, most mild-mannered guys you'll ever see - gets into a fight with the Knicks' much larger Maurice Taylor. Typical basketball fight...lots of shoving, but no real damage done.

But, the real strange moment came in overtime...when former Bull Antonio Davis jumped onto the scorer's table and directly over me to go into the stands. Davis says he saw his wife being hassled by a man who Davis said had had too much to drink. Again, no real damage was done...but it has brought unwarranted comparisons to that ugly incident in Detroit last season.

All I know is that I suddenly looked up out of the corner of my eye...and here was this huge blue blur jumping over me to get into the stands.

The NBA has very strict rules about players going into the stands...and the officials had no choice but to eject Davis from the game. But if, as he says, he was only trying to protect his wife from some drunk...wouldn't most of us do the same thing? "AD" is one of the classiest players in the NBA...he's not some punk (see Maurice Taylor in top photo) looking for trouble. Davis will likely be fined...and possibly suspended. But there's no comparing what happened here with the Pacers/Pistons brawl in Detroit.

Oh, by the way...the Bulls won the game, 106-104, on a Ben Gordon jumper at the buzzer in overtime.

Okay, I am not a product pitchman. But, I have to tell you about this little gadget that Jeanne and I picked up over the weekend.

It's called the Egg & Muffin Toaster...and it's made by a company called Back To Basics. This thing is really cool. You can make your own yummy breakfast sandwich - without a frying pan - in just a few quick minutes.

The Egg & Muffin not only toasts your English muffin (or whatever kind of bread you want)...it also steam-cooks an egg to the doneness level you desire...and, the steam will also heat up a piece of pre-cooked breakfast meat (ham, Canadian bacon, sausage, bacon, etc.) Throw on a slice of cheese...and, voila! You've got a tasty breakfast sandwich! It's very easy...and, I'm hoping the fact that the egg is steamed - not fried - makes it a little healthier than your average fast food restaurant breakfast sandwich.

Any way...we got ours at Target (Target Dog!!) for around $40.

Yum Yum! :)

I won't dwell much on the Bears' 29-21 playoff loss to Carolina at Soldier Field. While many Bear fans were talking Super Bowl this year, I thought that was pretty ridiculous. They fattened up on a soft schedule and a sometimes great defense.

Against the Panthers, the Bears' defense wasn't as good as expected. Their offense was slightly better than expected. And, Carolina played a very good game.

Not a bad year...and they have a chance to build on it next year.

What a terrible roller coaster of emotions, for the families of the mine accident victims in West Virginia.

First, they're told that - against all odds - twelve survivors had been found. There are jubilant celebrations.



Then, a couple hours later, they're told there's been a mistake...a "miscommunication." Only one miner has been found alive...the other eleven are all dead. Emotions suddenly switch to incredible sorrow and anger.





As a reporter, I can understand the circumstances that allowed this misinformation to get out. That doesn't make it right...but, I can understand how it happened.

Many are already playing the blame game. This is just a terrible tragedy. I'll leave it at that.

Get well wishes are in order...for Illinois Senate President Emil Jones (D-Chicago).

Jones, 70, was admitted to a Chicago hospital Monday, after feeling tightness in his chest, during an exercise workout at his south side home. His press secretary, Cindy Davidsmeyer, told me early this morning that Jones is in good condition and good spirits. She said Jones was undergoing tests, and would not set a timetable for his possible release.

My favorite Emil Jones story comes from then-Governor George Ryan's historic trip to Cuba in 1999.

Jones held court with a group of would-be Carmen Mirandas in Havana (the senoritas are seen with me in the photo to the right). Jones - who made no attempt at all to speak Spanish - proudly boasted to the women that, back home, "They call me Generalissimo!"

They do?

Well, in any event...get well soon, Generalissimo.

Please see this terrible story about the fire that destroyed the suburban Chicago home of a disabled Vietnam veteran...whose Army son had been killed in Iraq barely a month before.

Here's more on this story from the Chicago Sun-Times.

If you have any pennies left after the holidays, I'm sure the Alcozer family would appreciate your help.

DONATIONS CAN BE MADE TO:
Jesse Alcozer Family Fund
Community Bank of Elmhurst
330 W. Butterfield Rd.
Elmhurst, IL 60126

Easily the best movie I've seen in a long time!

Hello every one...I'm back! Happy new year! Jeanne and I had a nice holiday...and, I hope you did, too. I'm back to work today (Monday).

I have no plans to become a movie reviewer - because I really don't go to that many movies - but I have to tell you about one we saw yesterday. We rented "Crash."

"Crash" is, without a doubt, the best film I've seen in years. The plot line and characters held me from the opening moments to the closing scene. It was brilliantly written, brilliantly acted and brilliantly shot. I'm sure it will get Oscar considerations.

I know "Crash" has been out for quite a while - after all, we were able to rent it - so, you may have already seen it. But, if you haven't, I urge you to spend a couple bucks and watch it.

Chicago Tribune film critic Roger Ebert calls "Crash" the best film of the year. I haven't seen many others, so I can't comment on that, but it was very, very good!