May 2, 2002
Joe Walsh And the Eagles are Still Rocking
Legendary rocker Joe Walsh didn't start his music career playing the guitar like some might think. No, he used to rock out on the oboe and the clarinet. That's what happens when your mother's a "musicologist."

Even when he entered his first band, it wasn't as the lead guitarist. When he played for the G-Clefs and the Nomads, Joe started as a bass player.

It wasn't until he left for Kent State University that his guitar playing took shape, and he was asked to join the Cleveland based band The James Gang. Together, they released multiple Billboard Chart topping tunes. Walsh also had his share of solo hits, with his very first one reaching #6. This is what caught the eyes of The Eagles, who after losing their lead guitarist, were in the market for another one.

"It was nice to be in a band again," says Walsh. "A solo deal is a lonely career. You are the main man, and have to do all the hiring, firing, booking, and writing. It is good when you have the other guys around to help take on some of the responsibility.

Though they had been a great band before, Walsh's addition to the group prior to the release of Hotel California is what helped them reach there mythical status in Rock N' Roll history. Including an induction into the Rock N' Roll Hall of Fame.

Just because they are enshrined in the Hall of Fame doesn't mean that the Eagles are retired. After last year's two month tour of Europe, The Eagles are on the road again. This summer, the band is back together to tour the US, and this time it's in smaller venues so that they can have more contact with the crowd. "When you play those big places, it's just not fun anymore," says Walsh.

It's going to be the same bunch of guys backing up the band this time around, with the addition of a new guitar player that Walsh says he hates. "The kid is good, it's keeping me honest, and having to work harder."

"We are going to be pulling out a lot of songs that we were sick of playing," says Walsh. "We'll have a lot from the Eagles catalogue, as well as stuff from each of our solo careers. There is something for everyone."

The Eagles will also be putting out there first studio CD in years. One that Walsh correctly calls the first one of this century. You might also be seeing Joe on the small screen as he expects to make more television appearances on his buddy, Drew Carey's show. "It takes a week to film a half hour TV show. I think I'll stick to rock n' roll."

FACTOID - Joe Walsh ran for President of the US in 1980, and then for Vice President in 1992.

May 2, 2002
John Edward
People knew that from and early age, John Edward had a special gift. The fact that he knew a lot about everyone's personal family history, including things that happened well before he was born led people to believe he had a "gift." Turns out, they were right.

"I was actually a skeptic when I was younger," says Edward. "I used to make fun of my mom because she was a psychic junky, and believed all that stuff." John was 15 at the time, when he decided to put a psychic to the test after she made his grandmother cry. His plan backfired, and she ended up converting him into a believer. Edward decided to study up on the subject and eventually learned a skill that would become the focus of his career.

Now John has dedicated his life to helping people communicate with the dead. On his show, Crossing Over, Edward invites audience members into the gallery, and he sits and waits for the dead to step forward and deliver there messages.

"The show started off on the Sci-Fi network and I really thought it would only be about a 13 week gig, then they would cancel it," says Edward. "I am not shocked that we have lasted for three years, but I am pleasantly surprised." Crossing Over can now be seen nation wide on syndication.

Edward has also written best selling books about his talents, and does personal meetings with people. However, you aren't going to be able to book John anytime soon, in order to help as many people as possible, his one-on-one sessions have had to be trimmed down.

In truth, Edward says that you really don't even need him around if you really want to talk to departed loved ones. That is, if you know what you are looking for. "Once people realize that sometimes coincidences aren't really coincidences, they can start to do what I do. The bonds of love from life are carried over."

There are a lot of people who don't believe in what John's selling, but he understands the skeptic's criticism because he too was a nonbeliever."The skeptics normally only have childish arguments to put out against me... but I put my reputation on the line in a study that has now been published in a book."

May 2, 2002
Punniest in Show
For the past 16 years, Joel McColl has been the emcee at the O. Henry World Championship Pun-Off. He's also been a judge, and spokesperson of the games which is how he earned the title "Pun God."

"We usually get a couple of thousand people down in Austin, TX to watch the competition, but it's normally a pretty fluid crowd. People can't seem to take it for more than 15 minutes," says McColl.

The Pun God starts off each year's Pun-Off with an explanation of what exactly a pun is. He says it is simply defined as a play on words, sometimes on different senses of the same word and sometimes on the similar sense or sound of different words. We like to think of it as a clever play on words that elicits a groan from the audience.

The contest consist of two parts. The first is the "Punniest in Show," where contestants take stage with a self prepared pun. Those that are judged to be the best (which ironically is usually the ones that get the biggest negative reaction) go on to the head to head Pun-Off, where they are matched up against a fellow punster and given a topic. They then have to go back and forth every five seconds delivering a pun. The first player unable to do so is eliminated.

People from all over the country will be flocking to Austin, TX to take part in the annual event, many of whom do nothing but study the art of pun every day. One contestant won the championship seven years in a row. McColl recalled that he was a janitor, and that is why he was able to sweep up the competition.

May 2, 2002
Jim Shea
Jim Shea is the first skeleton gold medallist in US history. Well, he himself is not a skeleton, that's the sport he won the gold in. Why would anyone throw themselves down an icy slide with no protection other than a helmet, you ask? It's because Shea has the Olympics in his genes, being a third generation Olympic athlete. Both his father and grandfather competed in the games.

Though the Olympics are over, Shea finds himself in a new competition. This time, instead of facing the world, Jim is going up against some of the biggest names in sports including six NFL players, 3 other Olympians, and 1 former boxing champ in the Met-Rx Superstars. This made-for-TV sporting event will pit these athletes against one another in ten different events. They will be tested in rock climbing, Seadoo racing, swimming, and in an obstacle course, just to name a few.

"It was a lot of fun," says Shea about his time in Jamaica, where the games were played. "This was my first time in the islands, and it was good to see all those guys again... to be around all those great athletes."

The show is a throw back to the classic Superstars programs of the 60's and 70's. The top scorer in each event earn points, and the athlete with the most points at the end wins. The champion will get some good prizes but Shea says that they were all really playing for pride. "Once you get out there on the field, all you can think about is beating these other guys." The competition will be appearing on on CBS May 4-5th.