Robert Feder reflects..

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: Unforgettable : Random thoughts and highlights of life on the local broadcast beat : : As my days at the Sun-Times are winding down, I've been reflecting on all we've shared over the years. : With just a little while to go, here are personal thoughts, memories and, as I used to call them in my junior high school newspaper, Robservations: : * * Indelible images: Bikini-clad Amy Jacobson at Craig Stebic's house; Giselle Fernandez's boat ride with fugitive drug dealer John Cappas; Dave Savini's black-light inspection of hotel bed spreads; homeless poser Walter Jacobson getting turned away unrecognized from Bill Kurtis' doorstep; on-set standing ovation for Carol Marin after she quit WMAQ-Channel 5 over the Jerry Springer commentary flap. : * * Biggest scoop: The Rev. Jesse Jackson's attempted $11 million shakedown of WBBM-Channel 2 in exchange for ending Operation PUSH's African-American viewer boycott of the CBS-owned station in 1986. Though Jackson was only partly successful, his scare tactics made him the most feared and powerful force in Chicago media boardrooms and front offices. : * * Saddest memory: Writing the obit for one of my closest friends, Gene Siskel. : * * Greatest "Bozo" moment: When Bob Bell and Joey D'Auria, the two men who played the great clown, appeared onstage together at the 25th anniversary salute to "The Bozo Show" in 1986 at Medinah Temple. : * * Biggest shocker: The death of Bob Collins in a plane crash at the very height of his career as Chicago's No. 1 radio personality. : * * Most humiliating moment: At the taping of his nationally syndicated television variety show, "Johnny B. on the Loose," Jonathon Brandmeier pulled me out of the audience and dumped 40 pounds of dog food on me. : * * Left the business too soon: Jim Ruddle. : * * Stayed too long: Warner Saunders. : * * National radio sites: Tom Taylor's Radio-Info.com, Frank Saxe's InsideRadio.com, Joel Denver's AllAccess.com, Larry Shannon's RadioDailyNews.com. : * * Local TV news watchdogs: Mike James' NewsBlues.com, Scott Jones' FTVLive.com, Tom Petner's Shop Talk at tvspy.com. : * * Most fabulous lunch: Off the record with Oprah Winfrey in her private dining room. : * * Best epic struggle: Lifelong rivalry between Joe Ahern and Larry Wert. From their earliest days in the sales department of WLS-Channel 7 under Dennis Swanson, the two have never stopped competing for respect, attention and validation. : * * Most inspiring spectacle: Eddie Schwartz's annual "Good Neighbor Food Drive." : * * Worst prediction: When Tom Joyner announced he'd be commuting between his morning radio job in Dallas and his afternoon radio job in Chicago, I called it an "idiotic stunt" that would never work. He went on to become known as "The Fly Jock," while piling up millions of frequent-flier miles. : * * Most amazing character: Morton Downey Jr. : * * Career path not taken: I worked on the writing of two episodes of "All My Children" and appeared in one as an extra. : * * Smartest rich guy in town: Fred Eychaner, who created WPWR-Channel 50 practically out of nothing and then sold it to Rupert Murdoch for $425 million. Now it's nothing again. : * * Sweetest night: Dancing at Roger and Chaz Ebert's wedding. : * * Column schemes that missed the mark: "Deborah Norville Week," "Mary Ann Childers: The Mini-Series," and my contest to name the format of WGN-AM (720). "Infortainment" was the dubious winner. : * * Biggest personal kicks: Meeting Floyd Kalber and Larry Lujack, larger-than-life figures who never, ever disappointed. : * * Favorite hate letter: "Every bad thing anyone has ever said about you is true." : * * Fond Walt Disney World memories: Riding the Tower of Terror with Mancow Muller and Test Track with Janet Davies. : * * Most rarefied air: Sitting next to Walter Cronkite just off camera during a broadcast of "The CBS Evening News." : * * Sui generis: Dick Biondi. : (Robert Feder, Chicago Sun-Times)

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