Detroit in the Blood

​by Tuba

Prior to the domination that was our game against Notre Dame, I interviewed ex-Wolverine baseball player Bobby Scales. In a crazy round-a-bout fashion, we are now joined by Andy Kropf, Atlanta native and childhood friend of Bobby Scales. Andy's baseball career took him to Vanderbilt University where he played briefly with Mark Prior (before Prior transfered to USC) and was drafted by the Detroit Tigers and reached double-A status before his passion to make music took over. He is the front man and founder of the band Ocean Street, who just released their first full length album on September 16th, the same day as the domination mentioned above. My relationship with the band has grown exponentially since directing their first music video in Gulf Shores, AL, in early August. I encourage all of you to check out their website and get a copy of their album. Cheers!

TH - Andy, tell us about Ocean Street. How did the band get started and what's the influence?

OS - Mark Kovaly (keyboards), Steve Q (rhythm guitar), and myself (lead vocals) had been playing acoustic shows in little coffee shops and songwriter contests. At one point, we felt the urge to move forward and bring in drums, bass, and some lead guitar. It was very hard to find the right group of guys who were talented, committed, and had that x factor but eventually we found them in The Wall (drums) and Lance Price (lead guitar). I look back and everything felt like it was taking forever but I am glad for the way it unfolded. I would say our influences run the gamut pretty well. Everyone in the band was influenced by slightly different artists. What happens when you roll that up is the sound of Ocean Street, which has been described as a “Melodic collision of Southern-Soul and Songwriter Rock.(http://www.prleap.com/pr/46063/)

TH - What went down Saturday September 16th and how does it feel to have a fully completed album?

OS - We had our Album and Video release party. We debuted our video, released our album, and played a high energy, multi-sensory show to a capacity crowd in Atlanta. It feels great to have an album finished, but especially this one. This one means so much. These songs were written over the course of four or five years. We took our time deciding on a producer, and whether we wanted to do a full album or just an EP. Then, we just decided to go for it. Part of it was finding the right guy. Part of it was that I started to get that now or never feeling. We recorded for 12 months and really gelled as a band and found the parts that were right for each song and now, here we are.

TH - Give us some details on the album and what are some of the hits?

OS - Well, I've never been the Joe Namath type, so I can't really predict what songs on this album are hits. There are too many factors that determine that. However, I would say that after paring this album down from 25 songs to 13, we feel like every one of them is strong. We like them all. We have had quotes from high profile podcasters saying things like "Every song sounds like a single" and "Once you put this album in your car stereo, you will never take it out." We just went in and made the record we always wanted to make. So I am glad we are getting that kind of response. Maybe you can give the folks a few key tracks to listen to. (www.oceanstreetmusic.com)

TH - Take me through your early baseball career and what was it like growing up a baseball player in Atlanta? Name some of the top competition you got to play against?

OS - Atlanta, and more particularly, East Cobb, is a hot bed for baseball talent, instruction, and competition. I think it would amaze people in Michigan to learn how early the season starts and how many people make their living coaching youth baseball in Atlanta. What would also amaze them are the sheer numbers of guys coming from that area and ending up in the big leagues. Off the top of my head, Adam Everett, Brent Abernathy, Quincy Carter, Mike Barrett, Kris Benson, Marlon Byrd, Brian McCann, Jeff Francoeur, Blaine Boyer, Kyle Davies, and Michigan Alum, Bobby Scales. That is just to name a few. There are probably 50 kids a year going to Division 1 baseball out of East Cobb, three or four top 5 rounders, and a lot of guys who eventually play minor league ball. East Cobb is like the Cape Cod of high school summer ball.

TH - The people in Michigan that will be reading this will want to know about the Tigers minor league system...

OS - I really enjoyed my time in the Tigers organization. I made a lot of good friends and had some great experiences. The only time I made it to Detroit was for shoulder surgery unfortunately but I know it is a city that loves its Tigers. I am glad they are having so much success this year. One of my old roomies from my days as a Tiger, Cody Ross (now with the Marlins) made it out to the Ocean Street album release party and hung out in the V.I.V.I.V.I.P area the whole time.

TH - What was the experience like shooting your first music video?

OS - Well, we couldn't have pulled it off without everyone at Lu Lu's (http://www.lulusathomeport.com/main/index.php) really and truly helping out in every way they could. They helped us find extras, gave us the run of the place, and got us on a million dollar yacht that took us to a private island in the gulf. Plus, RM Haddad and Brian Schulz took a little bit of gear and a questionable looking band and made us look cool as hell! The shoot was fun, but I had no idea the final product would come out as well as it did. The video is fun. It shows our live show and our sense of humor. I am excited about getting it out there to the world. You can see the video for yourself and buy the record at www.OceanStreetMusic.com

Thanks for spending some time with us Andy and good luck to you and Ocean Street!

Still Dreaming

​by Tuba

There wasn't any question from my co-workers this weekend as to which school I attended. (Not that there had ever been any question) Needless to say I was fired up before kickoff and through the entire game. Pints of PBR kept me company as I tried to pop in on the graphic designer, on-line editor and audio engineer. Believe it or not, MLB Gamers 2006 presented by Holiday Inn aired without incident on ESPN Tuesday night and I'm thankful for that.

I still carry the Notre Dame victory in my back pocket but realize a bigger test lies ahead. The Big Ten season will certainly provide it's challenges and for that I am excited. But what started as a dream in late August has know become an ever nearing reality three weeks into the season.

Saturday is game two of five. Follow my math? We get to play four of the five teams that beat us last year and Wisconsin is Big Ten foe number one in more than one way. Thankfully my work schedule has provided me the opportunity to attend my second tailgate of the season and enjoy the last week of the baseball season in a state that has seen the sport revived. I still like the Twins but the Tigers will make the playoffs, don't fret! It will obviously be a decided advantage to them however to win the division, avoiding the Yankees in the first round and also having home field advantage. It's good to see Zumaya back in action and with a front line of Bonderman, Verlander and Rogers the Tigers will still be a tough out. Despite the recent struggles of Bonderman (excluding Wednesday nights game) and Verlander, Kenny Rogers has been in playoff form (or at least the form one would like to see him in, in the playoffs). But the health of Zumaya and the success of the offense will play the biggest role in how far the Tigers are able to go. I fear the Yankees offense to be insurmountable but crazier things have happened. (See Oak/LA 1988) My best to the Tigers and may our big ten opener be a success!

Way Back When-sday: September 30th, 2001

Ah yes, summertime is dwindling down, and autumn is upon us.

The Tigers are recovering from a 5-game losing streak by beating up on Sox of a different color. Last night, Bonderman, Ledezma, Rodney, and Jones combined to allow just two runs, then went out and beat up some smaaart kids at a Haaavard Bar. Might have lost Placido in the process though...

Things are in full fall swing at Camp Shembechler, and if you don't know Terrance Taylor, you will soon enough. Meanwhile, Michigan is going from crap to underrated to dark horse to everybody's secret pick so fast that the AP might have us in the top-10. How can we surprise anyone if everybody knows we are coming? Sports Illustrated online featured us, and Sportcenter's Championship Series just showed us moving up to #8 after knocking off Notre Dame. They do a week from the season each day at 6pm on Sportscenter, and I've got this funny feeling they're going to ride us out as long as possible, pissing off the football powers that be at every step.

But alas, today is not about today, it's about yesterday. It's Way Back When-sday, and today we travel back to one of the early tailgates in UMTailgate.com history...

It was September 29th, 2001, and just to put into perspective how long ago that is, Michigan was about to face Illinois...and Illinois was ranked #22. Crazier still, we had not knocked off the Illini in the Big house since 1996. Wow.

Michigan put a hurting on Illinois on this day, winning 45-20. It came at the hands of unbelievably creative playcalling, which included a 51-yard pass from Marquise Walker TO Jermaine Gonzalez, and a 21-yard touchdown pass by Walter Cross. Yes, you just read that correctly. Maybe it would be more believable if I told you that our regular QB was John Navarre? The day also included a completion from Navarre to TE Bill Seymour, and a reverse for a touchdown by Calvin Bell. Christ, how did we win any games that year? Well, we did get crushed in the Citrus Bowl by Tennessee 45-17.

But the game was not the big story. Captain Michigan retired his leg wrestling championship belt on this day, and became the first person inducted into the UMTailgate.com Hall of Fame. His name was etched into history on the UMTailgate.com flag, which was unveiled by Bubba for the first time in front of a capacity tailgate crowd.

See the original post here, the pictures here, and share your memories of this special day below.

Scheduling note: Michigan Fan Day has been officially scheduled for August 26th.

17 days? You're not ready.

Motown Listeners' Nightmare

 So our first "Monday" night game on Espn is in the books. It immediately became apparent that the intention of the downward spiraling network, as always these days, was to gimmick up the broadcast. Besides the obvious reasons of not hiring a football ignorant person to blunder through the most sacred weekly television broadcast, they go and add more bizarre graphics and segments than necessary. The only Tony! Tony! Tony! I want to hear sung is "Feels Good" or "If I had No Loot" by the group Tony! Toni! Tone!. I just don't think it's a good idea and seeing how Espn has filled it's airwaves with dorks, see Mr. Leather, Around the Horn Jerk offs, let alone steven a. and stuart. I think this is just another publicity stunt and real fans should be super pissed. I am. I can deal with Theisman, even though he makes his share of idiotic comments at least he had his bone exposed by LT to give him some street cred. Torico I can also handle, he is adequate, but we can only hope they get better, they get a pass this time but they are on a short leash with me.

Now I must admit I didn't hear the whole game cuz I simultaneously watching the Tigers pound Josh Beckett. But here in lies the dilemma, a dilemma i wouldn't wish on a near deaf person, listen to the new crew on Monday or Rod and Mario. I leaned towards the Monday crew because I already know our Detroit boys are winning the race for worst MLB play-by-play this season by more games than the Mets are winning the NL East by, but after a while it was a tough decision. I did listen to the broadcast long enough to hear two or three full innings of special guest Mark "the bird" Fydrich. What a treat that was. It only made me more disappointed I wasn't around yet to see his antics in person, and for all of you that don't know, that shit he did was not an act. Next time this occurs, I am definitely going to listen to Sirius 19, the Buzzsaw, while watching both muted. What would you do??

Official, UMTAILGATE, Summer TV Guide

With the heat being almost as unbearable as waiting for the "Band to take the field" on Labor Day Weekend, I have put together a survival guide to get you through the days. All you need is an air conditioner and a channel changer. Aware that many of y'all actually chose careers that require attendance in June, July in August, I have decided to come to the rescue. With the onset of Tivo and DVRs and whatnot, most of y'all have unlimited access to view any television program that you wish. However, since I have indefinite time, I have reviewed every single thing that the boob tube has to offer and just for y'all have put together a listing that will save you time and more importantly save your brain from all the shitty offerings on the tele. First we will start with the good, top 5 things to watch until the Commodores come to town.

5. SEINFELD  I know this may seem a little tired, but true fans realize it never gets old. This cast can suck the monotony of off-season boredom a half hour at a time. It's almost on at all hours of the day on various stations and with 180 episodes to view or review, the season will be here in no time. Personal favorites include: "Kenny Rogers Roasters", "The Merv Griffin Show", and "The Puffy Shirt". (Check local listings)

4. FOX NEWS  An obvious choice here, especially with the war play by play. The crew continues to provide us with some truth in an otherwise corrupt state of television news. Note: Is it me or is Shepard Smith is way too peppy lately. Although you should never compare something as serious as war to sports, see Kellen Winslow's son, the coverage definitely gets the adrenaline pumping like a day in the big house.(Fox News is a 24 hour news station.)

3. SPIKE TV  I was as plesantly surprised as you will be when I found this hidden gem on the station formerly know as TNN. These hillbillies have a ball riding the coattails of their son/nephew. I am not going to give away the plot but if you want to laugh your way to September 2nd, tune into "Raising the Roofs"(Thursday's at 10:30.) Right before the Roofs debacle of a show is the original jackasses. "The Dudesons" (Airs at 10 PM Thursday's) Like the American "Jackass" show these Finnish idiots mutilate themselves for your viewing pleasure.

2. A&E You feel pretty pathetic when you find yourself patrolling the "Arts and Entertainment Network" until this great lineup astonishes. "Dog the Bounty Hunter" (Airs quite frequently at an abundance of times, check your local listings) is an obvious pick and even if its really not that exciting you always get to laugh at how big his wife's tits are and how long and rubber banded his sons pony tails are. The real hit on the channel is newcomer, "Driving Force", (Monday's at 9 PM, however this Saturday they are playing all the episodes thus far from 2-4 PM so you all can get caught up) this show I would never have watched considering I have never watched a NHRA drag race in my life. However the preview with his daughters snatched my eye as they looked good. Upon further review, they are really hot and this dude is crazy. Now I have only seen one episode but the guy, Force, is constantly drinking beers and f 'in up. Both of which make me think about most of my tailgating weekends. Did I mention the daughters? Although Force is my favorite, I also recommend "The First 48", (Thursday's at 8 and 9 PM and replayed at 12 AM) which is a real life C.S.I. show where they actually are looking for real murderers. Not nearly as dramatic as C.S.I., but it's real.

1. TIGER BASEBALL  Nothing takes away the feeling of missing college football like following a first place group of Tigs . From the emergence of many youngsters to the return of Dmitri, the Tigers are making this off-season/summer a great treat. If at all possible watch them charge for the banner with the volume off as most of you know the announcers are complete douche bags. The anxiety is as fierce as the fourth quarter in Ann Arbor as late leads are never safe. Much like the famous Michigan "Prevent Defense" allows the opponent back into the games, the striped cats frequently allow late inning miracles that are served up by the venerable Todd Jones. Even though they are making me smoke as many cigarettes as their old school manager, I still watch them every night. Go Tigers, and to hearken back to days of yore, Bless these Boys for making the wait for the Wolverines exciting.