Mark Vasko
@markovasko.bsky.social
41 yrs in radio. WIDB, WKKD, WJOL, WSCR, WBBM, Sporting News Radio. pbp w Aurora U, NIU, Lewis, Benedictine. 1,100 broadcasts in 14yrs pro baseball, IBCA Hall of Fame w over 26 hundred basketball broadcasts
As North Central College gets ready for their 6th straight trip to the Stagg Bowl, I look back to the 1992 Aurora U. team that was the first Chicagoland D3 team to make the postseason's then 16 team field after going undefeated in that regular season.
markvasko.weebly.com
markvasko.weebly.com
December 30, 2025 at 4:23 PM
As North Central College gets ready for their 6th straight trip to the Stagg Bowl, I look back to the 1992 Aurora U. team that was the first Chicagoland D3 team to make the postseason's then 16 team field after going undefeated in that regular season.
markvasko.weebly.com
markvasko.weebly.com
Today is the 10th anniversary of the day Max Strus scored 52 points on 12 of 14 from beyond the arc and was 12 of 12 from the free throw line for the D2 Lewis U. basketball team I was broadcasting. We already knew how special he was but now so did everyone else. markvasko.weebly.com
November 25, 2025 at 2:26 AM
Today is the 10th anniversary of the day Max Strus scored 52 points on 12 of 14 from beyond the arc and was 12 of 12 from the free throw line for the D2 Lewis U. basketball team I was broadcasting. We already knew how special he was but now so did everyone else. markvasko.weebly.com
The semis for the IHSA Football playoffs brought to mind one of my favorite days broadcasting high school football. In 1992, I got to broadcast Wheaton South and then Naperville North in back to back games for State Championships. Game 1 went to double overtime. markvasko.weebly.com
November 24, 2025 at 1:35 AM
The semis for the IHSA Football playoffs brought to mind one of my favorite days broadcasting high school football. In 1992, I got to broadcast Wheaton South and then Naperville North in back to back games for State Championships. Game 1 went to double overtime. markvasko.weebly.com
10 years ago today the Benedictine U. men's basketball team's
run to the D3 National Championship game began. Wins over nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst got it started. More at markvasko.weebly.com
run to the D3 National Championship game began. Wins over nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst got it started. More at markvasko.weebly.com
November 14, 2025 at 6:22 PM
10 years ago today the Benedictine U. men's basketball team's
run to the D3 National Championship game began. Wins over nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst got it started. More at markvasko.weebly.com
run to the D3 National Championship game began. Wins over nationally ranked Illinois Wesleyan and Elmhurst got it started. More at markvasko.weebly.com
On this date in 2008, the Lewis Flyers men's basketball team came within seconds of upsetting the Illini at Assembly Hall. A look back on one of the favorite broadcasts in my 20 years w the Flyers.
markvasko.weebly.com
markvasko.weebly.com
November 9, 2025 at 2:37 PM
On this date in 2008, the Lewis Flyers men's basketball team came within seconds of upsetting the Illini at Assembly Hall. A look back on one of the favorite broadcasts in my 20 years w the Flyers.
markvasko.weebly.com
markvasko.weebly.com
Another basketball season begins and it is still weird that I am not going to be broadcasting anywhere. I haven't talked much about one of the best teams I ever announced. Ten years ago this Lewis Flyers women's team had three 1st team All-Americans in one starting 5! markvasko.weebly.com
November 4, 2025 at 2:52 PM
Another basketball season begins and it is still weird that I am not going to be broadcasting anywhere. I haven't talked much about one of the best teams I ever announced. Ten years ago this Lewis Flyers women's team had three 1st team All-Americans in one starting 5! markvasko.weebly.com
The Bruce Springsteen movie about the Nebraska era of his career comes out on Friday. I got to play Nebraska as a DJ in college. I love that record and most everything else of his. My thoughts on that quiet, dark album and why it stands the test of time. markvasko.weebly.com
October 21, 2025 at 6:38 PM
The Bruce Springsteen movie about the Nebraska era of his career comes out on Friday. I got to play Nebraska as a DJ in college. I love that record and most everything else of his. My thoughts on that quiet, dark album and why it stands the test of time. markvasko.weebly.com
October means playoff baseball so I picked up this book. I learned a lot about Larry Doby and Satchel Paige that I did not know but should have. Same even for Lou Boudreau and more. My story on the 1948 Champion Cleveland Indians markvasko.weebly.com
October 8, 2025 at 3:16 PM
October means playoff baseball so I picked up this book. I learned a lot about Larry Doby and Satchel Paige that I did not know but should have. Same even for Lou Boudreau and more. My story on the 1948 Champion Cleveland Indians markvasko.weebly.com
This card game was my childhood so I thought I would talk about it here. It was my 10 thousand hours. I loved it as I wanted to broadcast baseball from my earliest memories. Thank you PopTarts. Yes, really. PopTarts. markvasko.weebly.com
October 1, 2025 at 4:52 PM
This card game was my childhood so I thought I would talk about it here. It was my 10 thousand hours. I loved it as I wanted to broadcast baseball from my earliest memories. Thank you PopTarts. Yes, really. PopTarts. markvasko.weebly.com
Anniversary of the Cheap Trick
show at North Central College in Naperville. Cost 7 bucks to see them just before they hit it big. Got my ticket at Recordland at the Fox Valley Mall. Seen them countless times since but this 1st time from a folding chair in that gym was amazing.
show at North Central College in Naperville. Cost 7 bucks to see them just before they hit it big. Got my ticket at Recordland at the Fox Valley Mall. Seen them countless times since but this 1st time from a folding chair in that gym was amazing.
September 18, 2025 at 1:46 PM
Anniversary of the Cheap Trick
show at North Central College in Naperville. Cost 7 bucks to see them just before they hit it big. Got my ticket at Recordland at the Fox Valley Mall. Seen them countless times since but this 1st time from a folding chair in that gym was amazing.
show at North Central College in Naperville. Cost 7 bucks to see them just before they hit it big. Got my ticket at Recordland at the Fox Valley Mall. Seen them countless times since but this 1st time from a folding chair in that gym was amazing.
The Benedictine vs Aurora U. football game is 10 days away. I broadcast 25 of those rivalry games back in the day. 12 from 1 sideline and 13 from the other. I write about it here as I wish I was going to be in the booth for this one too. markvasko.weebly.com
September 10, 2025 at 2:53 PM
The Benedictine vs Aurora U. football game is 10 days away. I broadcast 25 of those rivalry games back in the day. 12 from 1 sideline and 13 from the other. I write about it here as I wish I was going to be in the booth for this one too. markvasko.weebly.com
Happy anniversary to Chronic Town. I still listen to all 5 songs to this day. I played them on WIDB at SIU right when they came out. Here is a WIDB playlist that features Chronic Town near the top. We were to play a certain number of hot ones per hour and a certain number warm ones etc.
August 27, 2025 at 1:42 PM
Happy anniversary to Chronic Town. I still listen to all 5 songs to this day. I played them on WIDB at SIU right when they came out. Here is a WIDB playlist that features Chronic Town near the top. We were to play a certain number of hot ones per hour and a certain number warm ones etc.
Candace Parker had her number retired by the Chicago Sky last night. I wrote this story when she signed to play here 4 years ago and am bringing it back. I was lucky enough to broadcast her and her brother in H.S. markvasko.weebly.com
August 26, 2025 at 11:08 PM
Candace Parker had her number retired by the Chicago Sky last night. I wrote this story when she signed to play here 4 years ago and am bringing it back. I was lucky enough to broadcast her and her brother in H.S. markvasko.weebly.com
I found these cards in a shoe box a while back and thought I would re-visit the 1990-'91 seasons for NIU men's and women's basketball I got to be a part of. Each team won 25 games that winter! markvasko.weebly.com
August 25, 2025 at 4:26 PM
I found these cards in a shoe box a while back and thought I would re-visit the 1990-'91 seasons for NIU men's and women's basketball I got to be a part of. Each team won 25 games that winter! markvasko.weebly.com
Happy National Radio Day. I have more than 4 decades in the business. I hope that business continues for another 4 decades. Here is my story in the profession I love and lived for a lifetime. The downs, and there were plenty, were offset by all the many ups. markvasko.weebly.com
August 20, 2025 at 10:58 PM
Happy National Radio Day. I have more than 4 decades in the business. I hope that business continues for another 4 decades. Here is my story in the profession I love and lived for a lifetime. The downs, and there were plenty, were offset by all the many ups. markvasko.weebly.com
The Cubs reached 30 games over .500 in August of 2016 on their way to the World Series. That mark is so rare that Jack Brickhouse in his 33 years broadcasting the team only saw them get there in 1969. I wrote about Jack and what he meant to me here www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIKa...
August 16, 2025 at 2:11 PM
The Cubs reached 30 games over .500 in August of 2016 on their way to the World Series. That mark is so rare that Jack Brickhouse in his 33 years broadcasting the team only saw them get there in 1969. I wrote about Jack and what he meant to me here www.youtube.com/watch?v=zIKa...
It took a few days to be able to talk about Ryne Sandberg. His loss hits hard. I took this picture during BP before game 3 of the 1984 NLCS. I write about that special season and a special ballplayer here. markvasko.weebly.com
August 4, 2025 at 6:12 PM
It took a few days to be able to talk about Ryne Sandberg. His loss hits hard. I took this picture during BP before game 3 of the 1984 NLCS. I write about that special season and a special ballplayer here. markvasko.weebly.com
I'm taking this Ryno thing pretty hard. I posted about covering his final season for WBBM in 1997 about 6 weeks ago. That summer was a pretty memorable one on the south side as well. Here it is if you missed it. I will miss talking w Sandberg forever. Just scroll down to 6/16 markvasko.weebly.com
July 29, 2025 at 2:59 PM
I'm taking this Ryno thing pretty hard. I posted about covering his final season for WBBM in 1997 about 6 weeks ago. That summer was a pretty memorable one on the south side as well. Here it is if you missed it. I will miss talking w Sandberg forever. Just scroll down to 6/16 markvasko.weebly.com
Crazy that this team was 30 years ago. I just talked to Manager Lynn Jones on the phone and reminisced about the old days. Here is a radio broadcast from the 1995 Kane County Cougars. I talk about that team and list the YouTube link to the game here. markvasko.weebly.com
July 22, 2025 at 4:34 PM
Crazy that this team was 30 years ago. I just talked to Manager Lynn Jones on the phone and reminisced about the old days. Here is a radio broadcast from the 1995 Kane County Cougars. I talk about that team and list the YouTube link to the game here. markvasko.weebly.com
I found a bit of a Cook County Cheetahs game vs Springfield of
the Frontier League from 25 years ago! Here is the story of that team and that season from my blog plus the link to the YouTube audio from that night.
markvasko.weebly.com
the Frontier League from 25 years ago! Here is the story of that team and that season from my blog plus the link to the YouTube audio from that night.
markvasko.weebly.com
July 8, 2025 at 8:47 PM
I found a bit of a Cook County Cheetahs game vs Springfield of
the Frontier League from 25 years ago! Here is the story of that team and that season from my blog plus the link to the YouTube audio from that night.
markvasko.weebly.com
the Frontier League from 25 years ago! Here is the story of that team and that season from my blog plus the link to the YouTube audio from that night.
markvasko.weebly.com
July 4 means baseball and ballpark fireworks to me. So here is a video from a July 2004 ballgame and my blog post about it. Fourteen July 4's had me in a minor league pressbox. 15 would be a nice number btw, lol. Here the link markvasko.weebly.com
July 4, 2025 at 2:44 PM
July 4 means baseball and ballpark fireworks to me. So here is a video from a July 2004 ballgame and my blog post about it. Fourteen July 4's had me in a minor league pressbox. 15 would be a nice number btw, lol. Here the link markvasko.weebly.com
Yesterday was the anniversary of the 1st regular season matchup between the Cubs and Sox. I was there as the beat reporter for WBBM in 1997. I look back at that game and that summer covering both teams at
markvasko.weebly.com
markvasko.weebly.com
June 17, 2025 at 7:18 PM
Yesterday was the anniversary of the 1st regular season matchup between the Cubs and Sox. I was there as the beat reporter for WBBM in 1997. I look back at that game and that summer covering both teams at
markvasko.weebly.com
markvasko.weebly.com
Because I need a distraction from the real world I found a postgame show I did on the Score from 2003 when Buehrle beat Mulder in 1 hour 53 minutes! Both the Sox and Cubs were good that season, a rare treat. Fun to look back at a fun summer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHI...
June 9, 2025 at 8:30 PM
Because I need a distraction from the real world I found a postgame show I did on the Score from 2003 when Buehrle beat Mulder in 1 hour 53 minutes! Both the Sox and Cubs were good that season, a rare treat. Fun to look back at a fun summer. www.youtube.com/watch?v=dVHI...
Congrats to Texas and Head Coach Mike White on the #WomensCollegeWorldSeries Championship. I broadcast him as pitcher in Aurora back in the day. In the 1989 ISC Tourney he was 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 53k, 1bb. Extraordinary. My story markvasko.weebly.com
June 8, 2025 at 9:43 PM
Congrats to Texas and Head Coach Mike White on the #WomensCollegeWorldSeries Championship. I broadcast him as pitcher in Aurora back in the day. In the 1989 ISC Tourney he was 3-0, 0.00 ERA, 53k, 1bb. Extraordinary. My story markvasko.weebly.com
Fun time last night for my induction at ISU in Bloomington
May 4, 2025 at 8:10 PM
Fun time last night for my induction at ISU in Bloomington