Something to Play About
Posted May 29, 2008 at 10:32 am by Laura Onstot
Consecutive victories at Safeco—against the Red Sox no less—is great news for Edward McMichael, he of the plodding tuba melodies that serenade you into the the hallowed halls of sparse victories and overpriced MGD in a plastic bottle. He's easily as famous as the players among local Mariners fans and often better liked. Here he shares his thoughts on Strauss and the view from the bleachers.
Hey Ed, can I ask you a few questions?
(He stands, lips surrounded by a bright red halo from the hours of playing) Sure, anything to get me away from Tubby.
Tubby? How long have you had him... or her?
This one, (he pats his dinged but beloved instrument) since 1992.
Why so many juice bottles?
So I don't get dehydrated. Playing the tuba dehydrates you.
When you're not playing, what do you listen to?
That would be anything by Richard Strauss (composer of Also Sprach Zarathustra, which was used as the opening theme of 2001: A Space Odyssey). And on a Sunday even Franz Joseph Hayden. And anything by Paul Hindemith, he was a professional violinist, but he didn't ignore other instruments.
Speaking of classical, I saw you outside the opera last fall. Are opera patrons better for business or sports fans?
It's better to play here, or Qwest Field.
So what do you, as someone who works right across the street, think should be done with the viaduct?
Tunnel. Like, put that thing underground so everyone down here might have a view of Puget Sound.
***
A man sits down in McMichael's chair while we're chatting. "Hey, Ed!" Apparently they're neighbors. "He has a hat collection beyond belief," The neighbor tells me. Today McMichael is wearing a witch hat with frankenhands out the top.
At that moment another man walks up with a bag of Dick's burgers. "Did you use the tickets I gave you?" the fan asks. McMichael just smiles and nods—he didn't, but baseball isn't what he came for.
"It's great," McMichael says, gesturing across at all the fans streaming by on a temperate afternoon for a night with the boys of summer, however bad their season might be going.
Topics: El Beisbol
Comments
i got the horrible news today about what happened to you, tuba.
i remember you outside of the kingdome as a little girl. sharing your smile, your warmth, the spirit of sport. i remember you downtown at christmas time, in my teens when i would go down to look at the lights in the city. outside of the opera house
just last fall, we were at mojo together, sausage in hand talking football. the spring before you took me for a beer after that sounders game, and we talked baseball for ever. the only time i went to the nutcracker - in my teens, you were there - outside in the cold, but still playing because you loved it. and so did we. you will always be here. i love you tuba ed.
win or lose you were are here. for us - each one of us. for the mariners, hawks, sonics, theater goers, for sport, for the good, for the better of all kind. for all of us seattle natives and those who visited the fine city. which was so much better because of you and your spirit.
winter spring summer or fall- i always looked forward to seeing you and i will miss you forever. thank you for your music. thank you for you. i am blessed having known you. i enjoyed you. so much.
Lord,
i am so angry. i am so sad. my heart keeps breaking over and over. i can still hear him so clear, his familiar voice, the notes ascending from his brass. his notes will hum forever thru the breeze. he will always be here. to me, to seattle, to all those who ever had the honor of hearing him play, seeing him smile, hearing his hello. You blessed him with so much and WE ALL GOT IT. THANK YOU.
this is a travesty. truly symbolic of the perilous plight of the world today. i thank You for having gone to prepare a place where Tuba Ed can play forever. where we will all rejoice together one day. i know that You have him safe beside you, and everyone welcomed his arrival.
TUBA AND ALL - HEAVEN IS BETTER HAVING ED. Lord, please give tube a hug for me. thank you for holding his place and for having prepared mine.
dont wait for me. but, expect me. see you guys.
Posted Nov. 4, 2008 at 1:07 pm by RhondaRhea.com