Capitol Fax.com - Your Illinois News Radar

Caption contest!

Posted in:

Illinois

* The photo below was published in 1971 as part of a story about how SIU student Steve Brown had been named “Outstanding Graduate in Journalism” by the SIU chapter of Sigma Delta Chi…

Brown’s selection was based on character, scholarship and competence to perform journalism tasks, according to William Epperheimer, SDX chapter adviser.

Brown is, of course, the longtime press secretary for House Speaker Michael Madigan. He is no stranger to controversy.

Have fun with the captions, campers.

posted by Rich Miller
Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 12:59 pm

Comments

Geez, I should have gotten an Oscar for “Fargo.” You’re darn-tootin.

Comment by wordslinger Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:01 pm
I just knew he wasn’t always as goofy looking as he is now.

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:05 pm
“Mom’s right… with this new haircut, the sky’s the limit!”

Comment by MrJM Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:09 pm
Look at those flowing locks. What happened?

Comment by Samwise Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:10 pm
Long ago, in a far distant time, a virginal journalism graduate looked through his aviator glasses and flipped his long bangs back over his balding pate and said to himself,

“Steve? You dog! The world is my oyster. I am the new Ken Kesey, the new Tom Wolfe, and I can fly over any cuckoo’s nest during an electric Kool-Aid acid trip!”

“I will become someone! Someone famous, looked upon with great knowledge, a leader within our disfunctional government, a man adored for his prowess in journalism.”

Then, one day years later, the phone rang.
“Steve? This is Michael J. Madigan. I need your soul. How much?”

Comment by VanillaMan Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:11 pm
“SIU student Steve Brown, interning for delegate Michael Madigan of Chicago, insisted that Mr. Madigan would have no comment on the state’s new constitution nor the behind-the-scenes compromises made by delegates to win its passage.”

Comment by 47th Ward Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:12 pm
“Hel-lo, Ladies!”

Comment by South Side Mike Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:13 pm
“Sure I was buddies with Rich Whitney back then. What happened? Lets just say one of us put down the pipe…”

Comment by Small Town Liberal Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:16 pm
“You’re ask me if this look is appropriate for the 70’s? We think that this is the look that the people want. But what do we know, we’re just one delegate.”

Comment by siriusly Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:17 pm
“The validity of the historical background of the picture is currently under review” Said Brown, spokesman for the Speaker.

Comment by annon Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:19 pm
Steve? Steve! Come out from under your desk.

It doesn’t matter what those Capitol Fax bloggers say about you. That was then. This is now.

Steve! May 7, Steve. Focus on May 7. After that you can have a looong rest.

Comment by been there Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:33 pm
Don’t know. Haven’t talked to the speaker. Will I? I don’t see that happening anytime soon. I don’t know. I don’t do prediction.

Comment by Michelle Flaherty Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:34 pm
Talk about sociopath. That’s frightening.

Comment by Old Milwaukee Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:34 pm
Rich, you left out the most important line in the article:

Brown’s selection was based on character, scholarship and competence to perform journalism tasks, according to William Epperheimer, SDX chapter adviser.

“I would not even be here without the benevolence and generosity of others,” said Brown, noting his family was too poor to afford his tuition. “Without the Illinois Legislative Scholarship, I would not be standing here today, ready to pursue a career in the most honored of professions, and spending my life speaking truth to power.”

Comment by George Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:35 pm
“1971 hopes and aspirations: Win a Pulitzer, work for the Tribune and expose the Chicago Machine for what it is.”

Comment by Rich Miller Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 1:37 pm
Mike and Steve: We are two wild and crazy guys!

Comment by Responsa Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:06 pm
Well, Rich, what Brown does for Madigan DOES help to expose the Chicaho machine for what it is.

Comment by been there Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:07 pm
Chicago. Chicago. But who knows, maybe the Indian word for onions was pronounced Chicaho.

Comment by been there Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:09 pm
Also left out of the story was Brown’s minor in pharmaceutical agriculture, where his thesis was on producing a new strain of apples “with strangely hypnotic powers”

Comment by Vote Quimby! Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:12 pm
I hear Rolling Stone is hiring.

Comment by OneMan Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:19 pm
I am just shocked to learn that I have something in common with a Chicago Democrat (Journalism,SIU)

Comment by leigh Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:25 pm
“It’s Jim Houlihan’s fault I look this way.”

Comment by Reo Symes, M.D. Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:27 pm
I’ll get back to you on this.

Comment by Steve Brown Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:41 pm
Get back to you or get back AT you?

Comment by popeye doyle Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 2:58 pm
Wow. The love and intelligence is just overwhelming. Did not mean for the Brady campaign to work so hard. Take a break dudes.

Comment by Steve Brown Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 3:28 pm
Ah I could have been Ron Burgundy…

Comment by really? Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 4:21 pm
“You want the truth? You can’t handle the truth!”

Comment by envelop Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 5:05 pm
1970’s era used car salesman Brown: “Listen mister, I’ve got this 1972 Chevelle that you are just going to LOVE over on the other side of the lot. It’s a Beaut!!”

Comment by Ghost of John Brown Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 6:19 pm
Once a dork, always a dork.

Comment by Bill Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 6:20 pm
Miller says Brown is no stranger to controversy. I once was told most of the controversy’s involving Brown happened after long nights at the bar with Rich Miller.

Comment by Old Timer Dem Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 10:36 pm
“If I could learn to draw Gus Bode, then I’ll be able to get somewhere in life.”

Shout out to all the Dawgs on the blog!

Comment by Pot calling kettle Wednesday, Apr 14, 10 @ 10:48 pm
Actually, SB looks kinda like Gus Bode…hmmm

Comment by Pot calling kettle Thursday, Apr 15, 10 @ 8:46 am
I used to be a Democrat, before Fox news.

Comment by Obamas' Puppy Thursday, Apr 15, 10 @ 9:28 am
A face for Radio…

Comment by jaded voter Thursday, Apr 15, 10 @ 3:39 pm