In 1976, Dad wrote a column critical of the Chicago Police protection Frank Sinatra was receiving while in town. Sinatra responded with a cranky (like referring to Dad as a pimp, for example) letter which Dad, of course, turned into a great column (later re-published in two collections: Sez Who? Sez Me, and One More Time: The Best of Mike Royko).

After writing the column, Dad auctioned the letter and donated the money--$400--to charity. In October, 2009, the letter reappeared, put back on the auction block by Rockford resident, and the 1976 winning bidder, Vie Carlson. According to a story in Time Out Chicago, Carlson took the letter to a taping of Antiques Road Show, an episode which ran on February 15, 2010. And Vie's reaction to the appraisal ($15000.00!) was among the best I've ever seen on the program.

Dad's column reproduced the letter's contents in full (as Sinatra insisted), and the result was one of his classics.

(And a bit of trivia: Vie Carlson's son is Cheap Trick drummer Bun E. Carlos.)