ML Soul of Detroit ML Soul of Detroit

Eli Zaret pinch hits for the vacationing ML Elrick. We examine how sports has become the new religion.STRAIGHT DOPE:June 17th, 1994 was a famous day in the history of sports- OJ Simpson’s bronco chase, Game 5 of the New York Knicks/Houston Rockets NBA Finals, the New York Rangers parade, Arnold Palmer’s final US Open, and more.







Unsurprisingly, Shawn had little interest in OJ’s chase and murder trial. 







Mr. Television Eli and Mr. Newspaper Shawn compare the difference in how different the mediums treated each other before the advent of the internet.







Eli examines the worshiping of sports figures. Find out why Yogi Berra was the first to collapse the hero facade for Eli. 







For better and worse, sports has become the new religion in America. Are athletes more celebrated today than 100 years ago?







Caitlin Clark has become the savior of the WNBA, but the WNBA players seem to not want her to be around. Did Babe Ruth, Tiger Woods, or Lionel Messi face this similar type of backlash? 







The 2024 US Open featured a major choke job that will haunt Rory McIlroy forever. GEEK OF THE WEEK:Former Detroit Lion & current Kansas City Chief DT Isaiah Buggs was arrested May 30th for animal cruelty in Tuscaloosa, Alabama. This past weekend Isaiah was arrested again for domestic violence and burglary. His agent dismissed the charges as  a “subversive campaign” to force the closure of the hookah lounge he owns in Tuscaloosa.ROOM 7609: June 17 is also the 20th anniversary of the Detroit Pistons’ parade celebrating their victory in the NBA Finals.  The only way to celebrate is to remember one of the best worst songs of all time- The Final Countdown by Europe. Eli remembers one of his greatest Father’s Day ever- watching Jim Bunning throw a perfect game in 1964.  No-hitters seem to be no big deal these days.College sports might be the ultimate example of sports becoming the new religion. DONATE OR SPONSOR US:Support us on Patreon or make a donation at mlsoulofdetroit.com or drop us a line at mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com to find out how cheap and easy it is to advertise on our show! We now accept donations via Venmo (and if Venmo tells you your money is going to DaisyHouseLLC, you’ve got the right link!)







LISTEN AND LEARNFind out more about the podcast at www.mlsoulofdetroit.com, where you’ll find previous episodes and so much more!







SUBSCRIBE/SHARE/RATE/WATCH:Subscribe to the podcast at iTunes, Spotify, Google Podcasts, Stitcher or wherever quality podcasts are found! When you check out the podcast, remember to rate it (even if you hate it)!!! Your endorsement is very powerful! Get podcast news on Twitter @elrick or on Facebook at “ML Elrick”.

While ML is gone on his big fat Greek getaway, Erika Erickson takes over the show and brings part of her Army with her- Jessica Dupnack from Fox 2 News.  Shawn Windsor eventually rolls in after a battle with a lug nut.







STRAIGHT DOPE:Shawn waltzes into the show about 10 minutes late after telling us he was 10 minutes away 30 minutes ago. Apparently, Shawn chooses driving safety over making the podcast on time.







Jessica has recently taken over hosting The Edge at 11PM on WJBK.  We go through some of the more bizarre stories that she has recently covered. Including the Taylor woman that cheated on her husband with the family dog and maggots that rained down on an international flight to Detroit.







It turns out that Reddit and TikTok are a treasure trove for news stories. Jessica enlightens us to another website that helped her bust some local public masturbators. Although it doesn’t seem like the evil serial Target ejaculator used the site.







One of Erika’s “favorite” and horrific stories that Jessica covered was the cannibal that made “ball soup” with his victim’s testicles.  







Erika loves True Crime stories and recently appeared on Max’s Mean Girl Murders.  Find out what other show she will be contributing to before we dive into the saga of TikTok’s favorite murderer Gypsy Rose Blanchard.







Shawn used to be a newspaper crime reporter and he recounts the story of the “urine filled brain”.







Erika wanted to be a criminal profiler before she “aged out”.  She now uses her powers to analyze her friends’ dates. There is a consensus that social media is turning society into narcissists and ego maniacs.







Who wants to wear a suit anymore?  Or “khakis and polo shirts”?  Or Lululemon pants? Or use a Stanley Cup?







Become a Patreon member. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like ad-free episodes and video of the show. For $15 a month, you get the bonus episode. At the $25 and $60 a month levels, you get free swag and exclusive merchandise. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on Patreon







GEEK OF THE WEEK: A particular person in the room had a ticket for the exclusive concert Eminem produced for Ford’s Central Train Station grand opening.  Thankfully, Jessica attended the event to give us a breakdown and make Erika more jealous.







ROOM 7609:Before getting into this week’s selection we learn about the “Boner Army” that is amassing in the area. Marc picks a song that might be fairly well known, but it’s not one of the first Clash songs that comes to people’s minds.







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ML dodged every kind of horseshit during a political confab on Mackinac Island, then debates Shawn on whether government works without good people. Marc injects some much needed common sense into the conversation.







STRAIGHT DOPE







High Energy Shawn says he’s having trouble getting going because of a change in our routine. Then he announces that he’s in a hurry to wrap up the show so, of course, he immediately abandons the game plan for some random thoughts – including asking ML and Marc if they prefer routine to randomness. Somehow, ML ends up comparing himself to James Bond, or at least that’s how Windsor, Shawn Windsor sees it.







It’s not easy to get around Mackinac Island, but ML almost always gets a free bike on loan from his friend Louie, the lead singer of Hot Carl and the Cleveland Steamers. Marc says that’s gross, but it’s not clear whether he’s referring to exercise or the band…or both.







ML’s bike riding prompts some bystanders to compare him to one of the world’s greatest, but also most diabolical, athletes. Listen to learn who … and what ML fires back at the wags.







When he wasn’t dodging horse apples and curbside comedians, ML was talking to leading officials about what Michigan can to do help police politicians who like to take money but don’t like to do the right thing with it. He writes about it in his latest On Guard column, which includes references to Honeydukes and The Spider-Man Shop, where a scurrilous politician allegedly spent some dough that was supposed to help people who weren’t his friends and family. Read all about it here.







Michigan Attorney General Dana Nessel has generated plenty of controversy since she was first elected in 2018, but Marc wants to know what she’s accomplished. ML provides some details, as well as revisiting some of the criticism he’s leveled at Madam General.







ML-a-culpa. Or at least that’s what we’re calling ML’s effort to apologize to a state employee he feels he didn’t do right by, even though Shawn keeps trying to let ML off the hook. If you’re keeping track at home, this is the FIRST time ever that Shawn has tried to let ML off the hook.







Marc, Shawn and ML debate the matter of how can you trust government if you can’t trust the people running it? Shawn offers a vigorous position, then seems to agree with ML and Shawn. Kinda. Listen and decide for yourself.







Because ML wants some kind of squirrel reference in each show after Shawn expressed his fascination with the tufted-tail rodents, he brings up a topic involving nuts. And how some creatures can live longer without them. What would YOU choose?







Nut up and join the Soul Patrol by becoming a Patreon member. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like ad-free episodes and video of the show. For $15 a month, you get the bonus episode. At the $25 and $60 a month levels, you get free swag and exclusive merchandise. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on Patreon







GEEK OF THE WEEK







A bad driver who shoots a woman he almost ran over is this week’s geek – and we’re hoping that’s not the worst thing to happen to him after John Law gets through with him.







ROOM 7609







DJ Dan takes us back to Trapper’s Alley and a momentous night in the nearby Shelter when he books PiL into the New Wave suite to perform “FFF.” Send us your favorite deep cut or obscure band – and a story about them or why they mean something to you – by writing to&nbsp...

ML tells Marc and Shawn how he almost joined the Marines – and how he avoided wearing pink skivvies while waiting with hundreds of other recruits in downtown Detroit.







STRAIGHT DOPE







ML, Marc and Shawn get together a day early to record this week’s episode on Memorial Day so ML can head up to Mackinac Island on Tuesday for the Detroit Regional Chamber’s Mackinac Policy Conference, an annual confab where politicos, business leaders and the media mingle on an island that was covered with horseshit BEFORE they got there.







Shawn asks ML how people react when he makes the scene, prompting ML to recount the time he and a news crew went to the policy conference looking for someone who had eluded them on the mainland – and how they almost got the wrong guy.







Get the bell ready! ML says that in the midst of the furor over the Manoogian Mansion rumor, Kwame Kilpatrick and his team showed up on the island in force to create the impression that it was business as usual in city hall.







ML explains how what’s on the official agenda is rarely the reason people head to Mackinac … and how it’s what goes on behind closed doors that is really where business gets done.







Memorial Day is, as its name suggests, a time to remember those who gave all. ML, Marc and Shawn salute our soldiers who made the ultimate sacrifice to protect us and the rights we enjoy.







A college course set ML on course to spend a summer in the Marine’s Platoon Leadership Class, before he changed his mind and had to talk his way out of it. It’s a decision he has regretted ever since. Shawn and ML agree that America would be better off if all teenagers were required to do a year of national service. What do YOU think?







Even though he never spent a day in the service, ML had a couple experiences while undergoing his pre-enlistment physical that he’ll never forget. Listen and learn.







Marc spent the early part of his weekend at Cedar Point and shares his personal connection with a tragedy that occurred at the amusement park’s newest attraction.







Other than hosting the Soul of Detroit, ML doesn’t like roller coasters. But that doesn’t mean he isn’t a thrill-seeker, as he demonstrates by sharing his experience bungee jumping at Coney Island.







One of the reasons ML doesn’t like roller coasters is a trip he took to Six Flags back in the late 90s. It was a trip that left his head spinning. Listen and learn why.







Shawn may become known as “Mr. Corndog” after this week’s episode. ML and Marc still aren’t sure what grape jelly has to do with it, though.







ML discusses his latest “On Guard” column, which exposes the misfits who derailed congressional candidate Adam Hollier’s campaign. Read all about it here.







Join the Soul Patrol by becoming a Patreon member. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like ad-free episodes and video of the show. For $15 a month, you get the bonus episode. At the $25 and $60 a month levels, you get free swag and exclusive merchandise. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on Patreon







GEEK OF THE WEEK







After picking on a billionaire last week, ML changes course and HONORS a billionaire who taught college graduates a valuable lesson at their commencement.







ROOM 7609







Shawn’s squirrel fancying gives listener Kevin the o...

Shawn comes to the studio and insists he’s more productive working from home. Then Marc plays audio of ML’s futile search for the people responsible for derailing congressional candidate Adam Hollier. 







STRAIGHT DOPE







ML’s personal crusade to get people to return to work pits him against remote work advocate Shawn who says people are more productive when they work from home. ML cites the Unabomber (a U-M grad) as someone who worked from home VERY productively. Shawn also thinks it’s swell that kids connect virtually to play video games and communicate. ML and Marc beg to differ.







In the midst of a vigorous debate, Shawn somehow works in a plug for his latest column. In classic contradictory Windsor manner, Shawn, who hates making predictions, is pleased as punch with his predictions for the outcome of each game the Detroit Lions will play next season. If you know Shawn, you won’t be surprised by the basis on which he makes those predictions. Read all about it here. 







Shawn says the modern workplace is changing and that people are more productive working from home. ML counters with two recent examples of how working in the same space with colleagues improved their work – including how a colleague helped him figure out the identity of a key player in a burgeoning political scandal.







While the fur is flying in Red Shovel Network studios, ML and Marc play a clip from “Anchor Man” inspired by the strange obsession Shawn revealed at the top of last week’s show. Patreon subscribers who pony up a measley $5 a month can watch the clip, while the cheapskates will have to be satisfied just listening.







Marc and ML discuss the scheme that may get multiple candidates kicked off the ballot. Like in 2022, when multiple Republican gubernatorial candidates got kicked off the ballot, it involves fraudulent petition signatures. This time, it could cost a congressional candidate his chance to take on Congressman Shri Thanedar and might even wipe out every Republican candidate for U.S. Senate. Read ML’s column here:.







ML hit the streets in search of two people at the center of the petition problems that might end Adam Hollier’s congressional campaign. Hear what happens when he lands on the doorsteps of the places where they claim to live.







Michigan Secretary of State Jocelyn Benson has been very careful to protect her image as an elected official above partisan politics. But her decision to endorse Hollier could become a problem for Michigan’s top election official. ML explains why.







Shawn asks Marc if the benefits of binge watching outweigh losing the communal experience of watching movies together. The discussion leads ML and Marc to offer their reviews of “Sugar,” the AppleTV limited series starring Colin Farrell. If you haven’t watched it yet, pay close attention to the countdown before ML and Marc reveal massive plot twists.







“Sugar” may be sweet, but nothing is sweetering than joining the Soul Patrol by becoming a Patreon member. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like ad-free episodes and video of the show. For $15 a month, you get the bonus episode. At the $25 and $60 a month levels, you get free swag and exclusive merchandise. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on Patreon

The Synanon cult had a branch in Detroit where addicts played “The Game,” which Amelia Benavides-Colon describes to Marc and ML while Shawn waxes poetic about the squirrels in Ann Arbor.







STRAIGHT DOPE







On her way to a gig in Washington, D.C., super Free Press intern Amelia Benavides-Colon revisits the show to talk about ANOTHER cult in Michigan, this one created to help people get off drugs. But first, Shawn explains how he uses the interaction between students and squirrels as a barometer for social norms.







Synanon started in California before heading to Detroit, where it had its only Midwest chapter. But before we get to that, a discussion about the appropriateness of Red Hot Chili Peppers’ frontman Anthony Keidis’ relationship with a 19-year-old dominates the conversation. ML suggests not dating anyone whose parents might have been your classmate, then shares a former roommate’s brush with Flea in East Lansing.







The cult is the subject of a documentary on Max, but first everyone does their Jerry Seinfeld impression while discussing the Duke University students who walked out on Seinfeld during his commencement speech.







By the time Amelia FINALLY gets to talk about the Synanon, she explains its ties to Alcoholics Anonymous and its unusual approach to helping people kick their drug addictions by playing “The Game.”







“The Game” doesn’t sound like much fun. It could last for days and involved hurling insults. It was a lot like this podcast, only longer.







All this addiction talk inspires Shawn to ask Marc if he’s ever taken heroin … and a whole bunch of other drugs. Listen to learn Marc’s answer.







Marc then launches into the weighty topic of whether it’s worse to be murdered or (fill in the blank). If you think “murder” is the obvious answer, you might be surprised by what you hear.







Synanon founder Chuck Dederich finally got in trouble with the law. So he put a snake in the mailbox of a prosecutor. Learn more about charming Charles, including his shifting position on the importance of marriage among cult members.







Read Amelia’s story here.







Amelia wrote many amazing stories this year, and ends her stay at the Free Press with a humdinger about roadside attractions. Read it here.







ML also has a new column, this one telling the story of a man who helped get Mike Duggan elected Detroit mayor in 2013 who is now at the center of a petition fiasco that could get multiple candidates thrown off the ballot. Read On Guard here.







Skip the cult and join the Soul Patrol by becoming a Patreon member. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like ad-free episodes and video of the show. For $15 a month, you get the bonus episode. At the $25 and $60 a month levels, you get free swag and exclusive merchandise. Sign up here: Get more from ML Soul of Detroit on Patreon







GEEK OF THE WEEK







ML considers naming Duke students who booed Seinfeld or the guy who punched Steve Buscemi GOW, but instead comes up with a scheme that allows him to say the name “General Booty” over and over.