Dark Star at the Finish Line

Dark Star was the name of a horse that won the 1953 Kentucky Derby.  It was also the pseudonym of George Chapple, who initially used it as his handle for a Los Angeles newspaper as a track handicapper while working in the financial business by day.

After Chapple moved to the Twin Cities to work in the auto leasing business, he made his radio debut in 1985 calling into "Monday Night Sportstalk" on KSTP-AM.  Identifying himself as "Dark Star", he told hosts Joe Soucheray and Patrick Reusse that he had information that Bud Grant would resign as Vikings coach--for the second time.  Which eventually turned out to be correct. 

For the next quarter-century, Dark Star parlayed that phone call into a media career that included handicapping columns, TV shows, and a long-running late night talk show on WCCO-AM.  And he still found time to play the ponies at Canterbury Park in Shakopee.

Off the air, Dark was reputed to be a world-class schmoozer, chatting up sports, business and political leaders at his favorite hangouts.  So much, in fact, that he was accused of kissing up to the powers that be in forming the opinions that he did.

After CBS (the owners of WCCO) bought out Dark Star's contract in 2010, he moved to KFAN on a part-time basis, mostly being a frequent guest on Dan "Common Man" Cole's show.

On June 1, Dark Star was scheduled to go on the air with Cole, but never showed up.  He was found dead in his Minnetonka home at the age of 66.  The cause is under investigation.

Dark Star was unlike anyone you ever heard on the radio in the Twin Cities, which is what made his passing so shocking.  He wasn't a professional broadcaster, a former athlete, a sports columnist, or had anything to do with politics.  Instead, he acted and sounded like a regular guy who got the break of his life and was making the most of it.  Now it's time to cash in the chips.

For more on Dark Star's life and career, we invite you to read a profile the Star Tribune did on him back in 1993, written by John Carman.  Find it at http://www.startribune.com/.