At his best, Mark Konkol is a White Sox fan. He lives on the South Side. He likes cold beer. And for the last 10 years, Konkol has earned a reputation as a tough-but-fair reporter and columnist while covering Chicago City Hall, Transportation, Cook County government, the civil courts and the ins-and-outs of city life for the Chicago Sun-Times and the Daily Southtown. Konkol also writes a popular column on Chicago Neighborhoods for the Chicago Sun-Times. He's appeared on Chicago Tonight on WTTW Channel 11, At Issue with Craig Dellimore on WBBM 780AM, Morning News on CBS Channel 2, Connected to Chicago with Bill Cameron, and, of course, the late Fook Show formerly on Q101. In 2005, Konkol was on the field with the Chicago White Sox as they celebrated winning the World Series. Take that Cubs fans.

Todd Fooks goes by Fook when he's at the microphone. The Washington D.C native is a 15-year rock radio veteran who's worked in Georgia, South Carolina, upstate New York and the greatest city he's ever called home, Chicago. These days, Fook is a freelance comedy writer who plays poker (not so) professionally. His best poker advice: "Don't bluff Donkeys."

Fook was the guy responsible for a "Moon the Bean" protest of the park district's decision to keep Radiohead from playing at Grant Park … ultimately his listeners kept their pants on, but it was a valiant effort. If you see him at a Bucktown pub, buy him a whiskey and water on the rocks. Make it a Knob Creek. He doesn't like the cheap stuff … just cheap shots.

Blog Entries by Mark Konkol and Todd Fooks

Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 30: Pandas and Belugas and Tiger, Oh My

Posted December 16, 2009 | 04:13 PM (EST)


NEWS FLASH: Tiger Woods sex scandal hits Chicago. Plus, Sun-Times reporter Kara Spak dishes Beluga babies at the Shedd Aquarium, leasing Giant Pandas and gives the scoop on a pregnant Brookfield Zoo animal. Don't miss the latest on the attack of the Asian Bighead Carp. There's more Blagojevich ridiculousness. An...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 29: One Miller High Life Too Many

Posted November 18, 2009 | 03:58 PM (EST)


Listener Beware: This is what happens when a Republican congressmen stands up Fook and Konkol ... and they have too many of The Champagne of Beers.

A quick 'cast recapping a rather crappy week in Chicago. Da Bears suck, suicide strikes Mayor Daley's inner circle and a Steelers fan claims...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 28: Dear Oprah, LA Is For Suckers

Posted November 11, 2009 | 11:17 AM (EST)


No matter what the soccer moms say, Chicago will not fall into Lake Michigan if Big O packs up her self-help circus and heads to LaLa land. Sun-Times columnist Bill Zwecker gives the scoop on what people are saying about Oprah's diabolical plan to sell out Chicago and cuddle with...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 27: Grow A Mustache, Save A Grandpa!

Posted November 4, 2009 | 01:46 PM (EST)


Fook and Konkol chat up a couple Chicago characters -- Tony Rogers and Mike Starcevich -- who aim to rustle up cash for prostate and testicular cancer research with a music video that's going viral on YouTube. Rogers' song "Mustache Rides" is a nod to Movember, an international charity...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 26: Best Interview Ever: Bra Guy or Congressman?

Posted October 14, 2009 | 06:51 PM (EST)


Two must listen interviews this week. U.S. Rep. Mike Quigley talks about handguns, hockey and Chicago politics. Chicago's Bra Guy, Oz du Soleil, enlightens us on how he's saving the world one brassiere at a time. His fledgling charity, Support1000, aims to provide needy women with "new or gently used...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 25: Don't Cry Chicago, The Kinky Llama Delivers!

1 Comments | Posted October 7, 2009 | 03:40 PM (EST)


After Chicago's shocking Olympic failure, Chicagoans need something to make them smile. Get prepared to meet the Kinky Llama, Chi-Town's bicycle-riding sex toy delivery man. What's his top seller? Listen to find out.

The guys slug it out over the U.S. Supreme Court's coming ruling on Chicago's 20-year ban on...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 24: 'Big Iron' Tom Dart On Why He's A Thinkin' Man's Sheriff

Posted September 29, 2009 | 06:59 PM (EST)


The guy who takes on Craigslist and saves puppies, but won't put political ambition in front of his wife and five kids. Cook County Sheriff Tom Dart -- the most influential law man in America -- explains why he's out to solve social problems while locking up bad guys. Dart...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 23: Does Billy Corgan Really Matter Anymore?

3 Comments | Posted September 22, 2009 | 03:03 PM (EST)


What is the Great Smashing Pumpkin up to with his latest scheme to give away his new songs for free? Sun-Times Rock Critic Jim DeRogatis gets to the bottom of it by answering the question: What do Kanye and Corgan have in common?

Chicago writer Mike Thomas has the scoop...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 22: This Podcast Was Interrupted By Kanye West

Posted September 17, 2009 | 03:54 PM (EST)


Amid the Soldier Field statue controversy, Walter Payton's son shares memories of his famous father a decade after Sweetness' death.

Fook and Konkol go in depth on what really killed Blago-boy Chris Kelly, and who is MJ's new arm candy? The debut edition of "Fill in the blank" with Sun-Times...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 21: Skin to Win, Chicago

Posted September 10, 2009 | 05:58 PM (EST)


The poster mom for Chicago's public breast feeding movement, Lauren Trost, basks in the afterglow of her newfound "celebreasty."

Speaking of bare naughty bits, the guys chat it up with Red Hot Annie, star of the underground hit, "Rolling Outta Here Naked, A Lebowski Burlesque" at Gorilla Tango Theater. In...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode XX: Rick Bayless - it Tastes Better in Chicago

Posted September 1, 2009 | 07:48 PM (EST)


After Fook and Konkol chew on a Halal-approved lamb kabob appetizer, Rick Bayless of Frontera Grill talks about his big win on "Top Chef Masters," your chances of getting a table at Topolobampo, the opening of his new fast food joint and why he'll never open a restaurant in Los...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 19: A New Urban Terrorist in Chicago?

1 Comments | Posted August 12, 2009 | 02:08 PM (EST)


The Parking Ticket Geek tells about a growing parking meter revolt on the South Side and warns us that a meter vigilante may be lurking in the shadows. Beware!

Fook and Konkol give you the 411 on the 872, the best place to watch Rod Blagojevich's continued breakdown and the...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 18: Crime and the Crusade of Andy Shaw

2 Comments | Posted August 5, 2009 | 04:43 PM (EST)


This week the guys talk about some funny crime stories in Chicago -- and some not so funny crime stories.

Former ABC-7 political reporter and new Better Government Association boss Andy Shaw outlines his plan for combating corruption. It involves a teapot and you. And they're bring the heat with...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 17: 'Perfect' Sex in the City With the Tin Man

Posted July 28, 2009 | 05:52 PM (EST)


Was that Bartman in the stands at Sox Park for Mark Buerhle's perfect game? You'll have to listen to find out. And what if "The Tin Man" challenged you to a dance off every day? One girl's true story.

Special guest Ald. Tom Tunney (44th) and the guys have a...

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Keeping Score in Chicago Episode 16: Rick Telander vs. the Sportswriters

Posted July 21, 2009 | 04:57 PM (EST)


Back from summer vacation, Fook And Konkol get the scoop from Chicago Sun-Times sports columnist Rick Telander about how Japanese baseball writers spoiled his attempt to prompt a serious talk about voting Steroid Era players into the Hall of Fame.

Mark is ashamed of Fook's callousness toward the Burr...

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Keeping Score In Chicago Episode 15: Beer, Steroids, Surfin' and Rock 'N' Roll

1 Comments | Posted June 23, 2009 | 02:53 PM (EST)


This podcast is a radical drunken, hulking, rocking good time. The guys interview former Chicago rock radio DJ James VanOsdol about his fight to publish a book about Chicago's rock scene in the '90s and why you should donate to the cause.

A beer truck spilled on a Chicago...

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Keeping Score In Chicago Episode 14: Meet Mike North, Crime Fighter?

Posted June 16, 2009 | 01:05 PM (EST)


The guys get the inside scoop on the Chicago Sports Webio scandal from Mike North, who tells all about his allegedly crooked business partner, David Hernandez, and his future as a FBI cooperating witness.

A former Playboy Bunny dishes on what it takes to be a Real Chicago Housewife,...

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Keeping Score In Chicago Episode 13: Fook and Konkol's Guide to Rocking Buckets

Posted June 9, 2009 | 04:45 PM (EST)


If necessity is the mother of invention, then somebody on the South Side needs to invent a bucket muffler.

Downtown Ald. Brendan Reilly talks to the guys about his decision to target the Bucket Boys with a new noise ordinance, what's next for the Chicago Children's Museum in Grant Park...

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Keeping Score In Chicago Episode 12: Parking Torture

1 Comments | Posted June 3, 2009 | 03:23 PM (EST)


Fook and Konkol strike back with an interview with Chicago's own radio terrorist, Mancow Muller, who discusses his controversial and headline making waterboarding.

Then Mick Dumke from the Chicago Reader gets inside what is making every driver in the city see red: the parking meters from hell, and what's being...

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Keeping Score In Chicago Episode 11: Chicago's Winter of Discontent (With Bacon)

Posted February 3, 2009 | 04:43 PM (EST)


If it wasn't for bacon this might be Chicago's worst scoring week ever. Our ex-governor officially became a talk show queen, our hometown NBA hero was struck by tragedy and a kid cop made Mayor Daley blow his top.

Thank goodness J-Hud rocked the Star Spangled Banner at the Super...

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