It's been a long time. Stan and I just got back from vacation, well-rested and, hopefully, better to serve you, the consumer. As Charles Manson once said, "Is it hot in here or am I just crazy?" I was in Hawaii--around Maui way--and the weather back here at home is hotter than it was on the island.

But every time somebody complains that it's too hot and too humid in Chicago, I tell them to think back to Feb. 13, 2007. Sure, it's an arbitrary day--you can pick any day in February. But it was probably colder than you know what and you were freezing your you know what off, looking ahead to warm weather. Well, my friends, here it is. Enjoy it. Anybody who doesn't believe in global warming, here's a clue. Which reminds me: I have to get away and talk to Leonard DiCaprio (that, in the business, is known as 'Falato-ing or name-dropping, as our buddy Dan Falato does). Anyway, Leo is the executive director and narrator of the eye-opeing documentary "The 11th Hour," which explores how humans should take a tip from Mother Nature and do something before the earth as we know it is destroyed.

Anybody who thinks global warming is a scam should check this out (and "An Inconvenient Truth, as well). Droughts are getting longer, hurricanes and flooding are getting worst than they've ever been, winters are arriving later and later. It doesn't look good, people. The movie is done very well, and I give Leo his props. Hopefully, I'll be able to use snippets of the interview on our show. Peace out, people.

Holler

In a perfect world, the White Sox would wake up and find that the entire 2007 season was but a dream and that they were, in fact, just a half-game behind the Cleveland Indians. In a perfect world, the Cubs would win 2 out of three games for the rest of the season, finding themselves 5 and a half games ahead of the Milwaukee Brewers.

In a perfect world, the Bears wouldn't have to play the 2007 season since the local experts already are crowning them Super Bowl champions. In a perfect world, Ald. George Cardenas wouldn't talk about taxing water bottles to plug a $217 million budget hole.

In a perfect world, Angelina Jolie, Brad Pitt and the kids could hang out in Chicago in peace. And in a perfect world, we wouldn't have to deal with a loser like SANLAZARO5@AOL.COM who seems to think we care about his racist views. Feel free to let him know, we'd like to make this a perfect world.

Holla

Oh man, what an action packed week. Legendary Bears running back Gale Sayers dropped by to talk to us about the big "Brian's Song" reunion taking place Sept. 15 at Harris Theater at Millenium Park (for details, check out www.HarrisTheaterChicago.org or www.GaleSayersCenter.org). It's a benefit for his Gale Sayers Center.

At any rate, James Caan, Shelley Fabares and Judy Pace, who were in the film, will be here. So far, it looks like Billy Dee Williams, who played Gale Sayers in the ABC Made For TV movie, won't be. But, the reason we bring all this up is because Gale Sayers -- the Kansas Comet, Black Magic -- was the man in the 1960s but his career was cut short by bum knees. He told Stan and I it was because back in the day, he was a finesse runner and being a finesse runner with no real weight-lifting regimen, he tore us uis knees cutting in and out of tackles. But he's not bitter about it. That's just the way it was.

But this is the way it is: Michael Vick is about to do some serious time for those dog-fighting charges. People say his career is all but over. Maybe with the Atlanta Falcons and the NFL but don't be surprised if he ends up in the Canadian Football League. Peace.