On my way to Rocking on the Riverfront Friday I fought with my emotions and gave-in to have a last look at a lady I had a reltionship with for over forty years. Tiger Stadium. Oh, she was still standing on the “Corner” but she looked like she was being pummeled by a group of big yellow metallic street thugs. She was defenseless. Wait! What was happening here? News anchors like to call it “razing”. “They began razing Tiger Stadium today.” Huh? No they’re not. They’re demolishing an iconic shrine of our sports history. Tiger Stadium is a member of our family and Deroit born DNA. We all have our favorite memories, and I certainly have many. Walking up the ramp with my dad and seeing that green grass for the first time, banging those green seats with my cub scout troop, the Colavito for Kuehn trade in 1960, Kaline breaking his collar bone August 19, 1965, Denny McClain’s incredible 1968 31 win Cy Young season and of course Gibby’s homer in 1984.
So as they ‘raze’ Tiger Stadium today let’s ‘raise’ a toast to corner of Michigan and Trumbull and say thanks for the memories. And if there’s ever a next time…raise your hand or your voice and say NO to the medley that she’s served her purpose and it’s time to say you’re long gone. Make the trip, and do it soon, and relive your memories and take your kids. I’d start with “I sat right there with my….”
Bruce Springsteen will release four live tracks and their accompanying videos from his Magic tour next Tuesday through digital retailers. The fours songs on Magic Tour Highlights, all recorded this year, are “Always a Friend,” performed with Alejandro Escovedo on April 14th in Houston; “The Ghost of Tom Joad,” performed with Tom Morello on April 4th in Anaheim, California; “Turn Turn Turn,” performed with Roger McGuinn on April 23rd in Orlando, Florida; and the emotional “Fourth of July, Asbury Park (Sandy),” Danny Federici’s final performance with the E Street Band, recorded on March 20th in Indianapolis. All of the artists, songwriters and music publishers are waiving their royalties and Columbia Records is donating all of its net profits to the Danny Federici Melanoma Fund. The I-Tunes Store is donating their first year’s net profits as well. (Premier Radio)
Ted Nugent has been performing for 50 years and will do his six-thousandth show on July 4th in suburban Detroit, but he tells us that perhaps the best show he ever did was Sunday night in West Hollywood, California at the House of Blues. “I literally had to open my eyes and look to the room for air so I didn’t have an aneurysm, so I didn’t blow up. It was such a fiery ferocity that it’s why God sent me here.” Nugent’s Rolling Thunder tour moves to Santa Cruz, California tonight. (Premier Wire Service)
After performing with the Foo Fighters along with John Paul Jones on Saturday in London, Jimmy Page told the Telegraph that Led Zeppelin will reunite for more live gigs in the fall of 2009. He added that individual commitments are preventing them working any sooner. Robert Plant is on tour with Alison Krauss with shows in New York tonight and tomorrow night. (Thanks to Sal Cirrincione)
Given the recent furor over Barack Obama’s “Sweetie” gaff with Channel 7 reporter Peggy Agar I have no choice but to ask that when you call the station please refrain from refering to me as: Ace - Big Guy - Big Shot - Bro - Brother - Bud - Buddy - Chief - Doc - Dog - Dude - Fella - Man - Pal -Partner - Sport and Trooper
As many of you know I worked as the Pistons’ PA announcer for sixteen years and, believe it or not, I received two championship rings. Two cherished items that are stowed away in a safe place. I remember being told that I had been voted (by the team and PSE officials) to receive them. I nearly fainted that night and we received them the following year. I could barely do that game because my eyes were constantly drawn to this piece of hardware that actually had my name inscribed on it. My father passed away in 1982 and I thought “God he’d be proud.” I was humbled beyond words and I remain so to this day.
As I watched Antonio McDyess play out of his masked mind last night I thought, this guy truly deserves a ring. He is so likeable. He will tell you the team is good enough to win another championship…and they are. He will tell you the team is unselfish…and they are. He will tell all he wants to do is contribute…and he does. Good game or not he’ll muster that contagious smile and answer any question. He exemplifies the team player and never makes it about HIM. He only uses the word “I” when he feels he could have or should have made a bigger play or contribution. He is a breath of fresh air in a sometimes rancid sports nation. Antonio McDyess does it all and brings his all every night. But he doesn’t have it all. He doesn’t have a championship ring.
His grandmother passed earlier yesterday and the team tried to keep it from “Dyess” until after the game; however, a cousin called and told him at 3:00 PM. His grandmother, Beatrice Harris, was like a second mom to Antonio. After the game he said “I hope she would be happy with the way I played.” Trust me, she was Antonio and she’ll be there guiding you the rest of the way. For a player that gives Detroit his all I hope and pray you get it all. And that includes a championship ring.
Randy Bachman’s younger brother TimBachman, who was also a guitarist in Bachman-Turner Overdrive, suffered a heart attack a few weeks ago and underwent quadruple bypass surgery. As a result, he is unable to work and has mounting medical bills. Randy will perform at a fundraiser for Tim tomorrow night in Abbotsford, Canada, just outside Vancouver. A post on Randy’s website says, “If you would like to join Tim’s friends and family in supporting him during this difficult time, please contact Tim’s son Paxton Bachman at PaxtonBachman-at-Hotmail-dot-com.” Since leaving B-T-O, Tim went on to work as a concert promoter and, most recently, a real estate agent. Courtesy Sal Cirrincione Premier News
Kid Rock and Lynyrd Skynyrd will share a stage next Thursday at New York’s Madison Square Garden and will then take their Rock and Rebels Tour across the country in August. The nine-show jaunt will begin August 8th in Oklahoma City. –Doug Leibowitz
8/8 - Oklahoma City, OK - Zoo Amphitheater
8/23 - Mansfield, MA - Tweeter Center
8/9 - The Woodlands, TX - C-W Mitchell Pavilion
8/25 - Toronto, ON (Can) - Molson Amphitheater
8/14 - Cincinnati, OH - Riverbend Music Center
8/30 - Holmdel, NJ - P-N-C Bank Arts Center
8/16 - Indianapolis, IN - Verizon Wireless Music Center
8/31 - Hartford, CT - New England Dodge Music Center
