What Could Be Better?

​by Tuba

Michigan is undefeated and the Tigers are in the World Series! Fantastic. While the exterior is bright and often times blinding, we often forget to see the turmoil of the inner workings. There are many stories that wind up next to the dirty pans on the back stove when things are going this well. But the potential trouble Adrian Arrington is in, the injury to Mario Manningham and the early dismissal to the jovial Dmitri Young from the Tigers have been underlying tremmors in what is a relatively joyous and calm fall. 

Each pre-season in Ann Arbor the hopes of an undefeated season run rampant. Will the defense hold up? How about the quarterback position? Play calling? Question after question finally gets answered during the arduous campaign and yet only one team will remain the victor. And by week eight only a few are left with the same hopes they started the season with. Thankfully, 2006 is one of those seasons for Michigan, and yet the obstables week in and week out are unpredictable...Injuries, court cases, girlfriends...Each player has their own demons. We all have our own demons. So let us pause and take note of what we have and what we are willing to sacrifice to improve upon each day, to make ourselves better and to be productive people in our society no matter our short comings. So at some point this weekend raise a glass (whether it be morgan's, beer or orange juice) to what we have today and not what we hope to have tomorrow.

An Outsider's Perspective

by Tuba​

It's not often that I feel like I'm on the outside looking in when it comes to Michigan football, but this game doesn’t mean the same to me as it does to those of you with Michigan Drivers licenses. In fact, in 2000 I went to Indianapolis for the final four and was rooting for Mateen and the boys. I'm not sure if I've ever hated State but I do know one thing for sure, I once loved East Lansing...

I got to Michigan two weeks before school started in August of 1994 to attend band camp. And since that time I have been one of many things... Tuba player, a gangster from Brooklyn, a Mark Messier fan and even an obnoxious New Yorker. (Some might say I'm every bit of all of them till this day). But it was on a late fall afternoon at a fraternity behind South Quad that my relationship with MSU was born. A couple of my hall mates asked me if I'd like to go to East Lansing. Now, the one thing I was told before I got to Ann Arbor by a distant cousin of mine was "the girls are hotter at State." With this in mind I slammed my beer (as that was the challenge for me in order to gain permission to ride) and rolled out to East Lansing. The scene was electric. Beer and breasts. I was ecstatic! And when we were able to start a fight at the Quiznos on Grand River between two friends that attended MSU while escaping unscathed, I asked "when are we coming back?!"

Since that day I have embraced the Spartans. In a way you do with your retarded cousin, or Goody. You love their enthusiasm and their joie de vivre. You appreciate their willingness to do absolutely anything. They'll burn their couches in the street. Drink until death and piss on anyone in their way. Just ask Brett Taylor. Seriously, these people are special, hence my inability to find hatred for the underprivileged that are the Spartans. I realize this is classic Michigan arrogance and condescension. But at least I'm sincere. And that my friends is what bonds me and Sparty. Our sincerity. They have a belief in themselves, their university and their football team. They touted Jeff Smoker as the best quarterback in the big ten and believed it! I thank you Michigan State for being their for us. For allowing us to have someone to feed our egos and say, "It's great to be a Michigan Wolverine!"

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!

"Triple Beam..." A Chat With B. Scales

by Tuba​

As we delve deeper into the football season, I will try and provide a little break in what can be an intense and anxious season. Seriously, how many times are you going to read about Brady Quinn's quest for glory and how our passing game leaves little to be desired? Can't win the game in the papers so below is an interview I conducted with Bobby Scales, a member of the Philadelphia Phillies triple-A farm team in Scranton, PA and more importantly, a '99 from Michigan who captained the team that same year. Homeboy drops the knowledge on The ATL, Michigan, College Baseball and even mans up and puts a prediction out there for this weekends game...

TH - 

B. Scales, what was the competition like growing up in the dirty dirty?

BS - The competition in Atlanta was thick man. Where I grew up we play some of the best high school and summer ball in the country. Some of the guys that I played with: Michael Barrett, Kyle Farnsworth (High School Teammate), Marlon Byrd, Brent Abernathy,Adam Everett, Jeff Backus( starting right tackle for Detroit Lions and fellow UM Alum), Andy Kropf (Ex-Tigers Minor Leaguer and Ocean Street lead singer...more on him next week). There are more I just can't remember them all.

TH - Why'd you choose to come up north to play ball at Michigan?

BS - I chose Michigan for the academics, baseball was an afterthought. In my house school was first and everything else was secondary. Not that athletics didn't matter but getting good grades was the most important thing and my folks were hard on me about that. At the same time my Dad demanded that if I was going to play sports that I put in the work and be good at that too. I don't believe in participating in something just for the experience and I got that belief from him.

I was fairly sure that I wanted sports to be in my life for ever and Michigan's sports mangement program is one of the best in the world so that was a no brainer for me.

TH - How can college baseball increase it's popularity?

BS - I think that college baseball is very popular. The problem that college baseball has is that it really starts to heat up around the end of March and beginning of April and that is the same time that mlb clubs are breaking spring training and going north. So when given the choice people are going to watch major league baseball over a college game most of the time. Also there are some people that just hate college athletics. So I think it is very difficult to win over people that don't watch college sports and in particular college baseball. The best thing to do is to get kids to like it while they are young and then they will stay with it.

TH - Can you believe you're playing professional ball?

BS - If you would have told me that I would have been playing professional baseball for my seventh year and my third in AAA when I walked on the UM baseball team in the fall of 1995, I would have looked at you like you were crazy. I really thought that I would play at school then get a job like everyone else but by the grace of God here I am. The only time it gets a little tough is when you come home after a game and turn on baseball tonight and you see a guy up in the big leagues that you feel like you are better than. That isn't being jealous, there are guys who are up right now that I feel like I am better than, flat out. I just keep the faith, keep grinding and know when I get my chance I will be ready.

TH - Of course I can't let you go without giving me a prediction for this weekend's game...

BS - Michigan 21

Clowns from Indiana and their fat coach 17

B. Scales

Way to represent B! As always...We're droppin' the hammer on Thursdays!