ML Soul of Detroit ML Soul of Detroit

Dan Wetzel of Yahoo Sports stops in to talk about an epic FBI fail and Detroit’s epic performance as host of the NFL Draft while Marc joins in and ML types Shawn’s national sports writing award.







STRAIGHT DOPE: We start this week’s show trying to celebrate Shawn, whose outstanding work for the Detroit Free Press was honored with a third place award for sports opinion writing in the prestigious National Headliner Awards. Shawn tries to downplay it but, like Ron Burgundy, he really IS kind of a big deal. Read his superlative work here.







Dan returns to the basement just in time for ML to inadvertently revive the Caitlin Clark discussion when he makes the mistake of mentioning that Burt Reynolds, in this week’s intro, is wearing 22 in the movie “Semi Tough,” then noting that it’s the same number he wore in “The Longest Yard.” As luck would have it, 22 is also Clark’s number.







That conversation turns to controversy stirred up when a sports writer for the Indianapolis Star rather awkwardly welcomed Clark to Indy, where she landed as the top pick in the WBNA draft. Read his apology here.







Dan and Marc bemoan the fact that more people are paying attention to that tempest in a teapot instead of another huge story out of Indianapolis: The FBI’s agreement to pay more than $100 million to Larry Nassar’s victims.







Dan discusses how the FBI did virtually nothing to investigate or stop Nassar from abusing young gymnasts – and may have even prevented other authorities from stopping the diabolical doctor. Read his column here.







Detroit is still basking in the afterglow of a successful NFL Draft. Dan, Marc, Shawn and ML discuss what went well, and why Detroit could reap the benefits of throwing a great party for years to come.







Please 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: Shawn finished third in the national sports writing competition. The person who keeps finishing number two a Dearborn cemetery is this week’s geek.







ROOM 7609: DJ Dan introduces us to a side of the Thompson Twins by booking “Squares and Triangles” into the New Wave suite. Send us your favorite deep cut or obscure band – and a story about them or why they mean something to you – by writing to mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com.







FEEDBACK: Shawn on NPR, Lee Chatfield faces criminal charges and revisiting the Super Bowl XL murder is on your minds. We welcome all your comments – and constructive criticism – atmlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com







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 Daisy...

Did Detroit sweep a murder under the red carpet it rolled out for the NFL during Super Bowl XL? ML, Marc and Shawn discuss a cold case that police officials once described as a “delayed arrest.” Even if that was a legit law enforcement term, the delay is now going on 18 years.







STRAIGHT DOPE







The entire city is amped up about the NFL Draft coming to Detroit, and ML has a story about an 18-year-old cold case including interviews with cops who worked the case and the victim’s family, so of course Yawn Windsor gets the show started with musings on people who take trips by themselves. For the rest of the world, here’s a link to ML’s On Guard column.







ML’s mention of Tecumseh – the hometown of a 24-year-old woman murdered in downtown Detroit during Super Bowl XL – reminds Shawn of a story he did with Jim Schaefer back in 2006 about a creepy high school coach from the small town that includes the epic line: “…how you going to play the Dizzle like that?”







When the conversation FINALLY turns to ML’s latest investigation, he and Marc get caught up on the case of Kyle Smith, a 24-year-old woman who was shot to death on Woodward Avenue a day before Super Bowl XL. ML and Marc discuss Smith’s fascinating life, which included a heroin addiction and a brush with one of the most notorious cops in recent history: Robocop.







Smith was standing outside the Good Life Lounge when she was shot by a man she bumped into around 1:30 a.m. on Feb. 4, 2006. ML discusses what happened next.







Police had a suspect in Smith’s murder, but couldn’t break his alibi. Smith’s family wonders whether Robocop might have been involved, since Smith testified against him in one of the biggest police corruption cases in recent Detroit history. The jury didn’t convict any of the officers, and Smith slept with a sawed-off shotgun under her mattress out of fear Robocop might seek his revenge.







Marc asks whether the killing could have been a hit. ML shares some details from an investigator on the case that suggest it could have been more than a random shooting.







ML shares some homicide statistics that reveal how murders have gone down since 2006, then shares one statistic that hasn’t changed.







Marc asks about the other person shot when Smith was killed. ML shares what the man’s father said about the aftermath of the tragedy.







Not everyone ML contacted would talk about Smith’s murder. Two people who blew him off were former Detroit Police Chief Ella Bully-Cummings and current Detroit City Council President Pro Tem James Tate, who used to be a police spokesman. Listen and learn why ML thought they had something to share.







Please 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 Chipotle customer who shot a employee in a dispute over guacamole is this week’s geek.







ROOM 7609







Music for Pleasure checks into the New Wave suite to spend some “Time.” Send us your favorite deep cut or obscure band – and a story about them or why they mean something to you – by writing to mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com.







FEEDBACK

Eli Zaret zooms in to talk about a major league wife swap, Caitlin Clark, the Tigers, Red Wings, Pistons and whatever the hell else he wants. (Hey, he’s Eli!)







STRAIGHT DOPE







Marc creates another outstanding intro with matching video starring ML and Shawn in a trailer originally featuring Roger Moore and Stacey Keach, which you can only see if you’re a Patreon supporter donating $5 a month. ML wonders whether he is Moore or Keach. Shawn offers his answer.







Eli barely says hello before Shawn takes over the show, turning it into a Caitlin Clark and women’s NCAA basketball love fest. ML tries to reassert control, but Eli and Marc tell him to stand down.







The Detroit Pistons season ended, mercifully. Eli opines on his experience with the team and ML says Tom Gores is one of the worst owners in professional sports for keeping a GM who couldn’t win and a coach who didn’t want to coach.







Did Tarik Skubal blow his chance at the Cy Young on Opening Day?  Who even suggested such a preposterous thing? The crew discusses.







Eli weighs in on the Tigers broadcast teams and ML tells a Craig Monroe story that turned him into a fan. Get Eli’s take. (Spoiler alert: If you’re not Ernie Harwell, Eli isn’t impressed)







ML asks Eli why so many Michigan Wolverine coaches are getting busted for drunken driving. Marc says there’s nothing to see here. 







Fritz Peterson, a New York Yankees pitcher who traded families with a fellow Yankees hurler in 1973, died. ML asks Eli to reflect on the public outcry at the time but, in another act of defiance, Eli prefers to talk about Dennis Eckersley and Rick Manning’s complicated relations with Eck’s wife.







Speaking of great causes, please 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







Detroit Mayor Mike Duggan is a known micro-manager, so why is he clowning a top appointee for building a new city landmark that Hizzoner claims he still hasn’t seen? The landmark may not win any awards, but Duggan takes home this week’s geek honors.







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The Suburbs check into the New Wave suite to perform “Waiting,” then ML asks Marc and Shawn if they know what the lead singer and Bill Clinton may have had in common. Send us your favorite deep cut or obscure band – and a story about them or why they mean something to you – by writing to mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com.







FEEDBACK







The media and Dan Gilbert are on your mind this week. We welcome all your comments – and constructive criticism – at mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com







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 LEARN

A star of “Sasquatch Sunset” talks Detroit, Hollywood, surfing and the documentary he stars in during the Freep Film Festival, which kicks off this weekend. Then ML, Marc and Shawn meet two guys using garish track suits to raise money for charity before ML shares some boasts from guys who think they could shut down Caitlin Clark.







STRAIGHT DOPE







Marc is solely responsible for this week’s intro video and audio selection, which explains why he has cast ML in a new version of the Steve Martin classic “The Jerk.” ML responds by telling Marc and Shawn he doesn’t need anything … except maybe this chair, this Thermos, this remote control and this dog. Only it turns out he doesn’t need this dog…







Christophe Zajac-Denek launched his career in the entertainment industry as a drummer in the Detroit band Hard Lessons. After six years without breaking through, he moved to LA and turned to acting to help pay his bills. Surprisingly, his plan seems to be working, with roles in “Twin Peaks” and the new “Sasquatch Sunset.” If you don’t recognize his name, you may recognize him by his 4-foot-4 stature. Christophe tells ML, Marc and Shawn about life as a little person and how he hopes his documentary will make a big difference.







Christophe has found a lot of different gigs in Hollywood, including a recurring role on “Jimmy Kimmel Live.” He describes many of those roles as “foams,” meaning he is inside a foam costume. ML asks him how many star vehicles there are for little people who aren’t named Peter Dinklage or Warrick Davis. Christophe discusses the challenges.







Marc inquires what it was like to work on “Sasquatch Sunset,” a new movie that has plenty of Yetis but no dialogue. Christophe has third billing, behind Jesse Eisenberg and Riley Keough. After the show, Marc showed ML the trailer which starts with, to put it mildly, an rather unconventional clip.







ML asks Christophe how he deals with people staring at him, a topic he discusses at length in his “Standing on Water” documentary.







Marc asks Christophe to share some of the stupid questions people ask him, and Christophe tells a funny story that occurred while shopping at Honey Bee Market.







Dating is so tough for little people that Christophe says 99 percent of women are not interested in him and the 1 percent who are have problems. ML, who is over 6-foot-1, tells Christophe he has the same problem. So they make plans to hit the town together next time Christophe is in Detroit.







Check out Christophe’s podcast, “I’m Kind of a Big Deal” using this link.







Meet Christophe this weekend when he comes to promote his film and the Freep Film Festival. Find out more about the festival, including how to get tickets and participate in some cool events, here.   You might even run into Shawn there. He’s moderating the discussion panel after “Rouge.”







August Gitschlag and Conrad Maziarz drop by to promote Track Suit 10, their annual charity fundraising party at Whiskey In The Jar in Hamtramck. This week’s gig will be held Saturday, April 13. The party features outrageous track suits, great music, raffles, prize baskets and good times. Find out more on Instagram at Magsuit.Detroit







ML asks Shawn to rate some of the reasons men gave for why they believe they could beat Iowa superstar Caitlin Clark. Listen and learn where ML found these offbeat fellows.







Speaking of great causes, please join the Soul Patrol by becoming a Patreon member. For as little as $5 a month, you can enjoy benefits like ad-free episodes a...

As the voice of the Oakland Golden Grizzlies, Neal Ruhl had a front row seat for one of the best stories to come out of March Madness. He tells Marc and ML what it was like to travel with Cinderella while Cinder-Fella Shawn waits to zoom in.







STRAIGHT DOPE







Last week, we had the Beauty: Reporter extraordinaire Erika Erickson. This week, we were expecting the Beast … but Shawn cheated us. Again!







They call him the Golden Ruhl. Or at least ML thinks they should. Either way, play-by-play man Neal Ruhl was at the center of the college basketball world when the Oakland Golden Grizzlies upset the legendary Kentucky Wildcats and coach John Calipari in March Madness. Neal takes us behind the scenes on what it was like for that wild ride.







Marc asks Neal whether he believed Oakland could beat mighty Kentucky. Listen and learn which one of these broadcast veterans made the right call.







Neal wears a lot of hats. In addition to his work for Oakland University, he calls games for Detroit City Football Club and hosts a show on Woodward Sports with former Detroit Red Wing Darren McCarty. Catch their show Big D Energy here.







Oakland coach Greg Kampe was a man in demand after his team pulled off an epic upset. Neal tells us how Kamp juggled all of the requests for his time – and prepared his team for N.C. State, a team they took to overtime. No other team in the tourney has played N.C. State so tough. The Wolfpack just beat Duke to advance to the Final Four.







Jack Gohlke went from nobody to overnight sensation by drilling 3-pointers for Oakland University. So when the NIL offers came pouring in, he didn’t have professional help to deal with them. Instead, he turned to some unlikely advisers. Neal tells us all about it.







Al Michaels became a broadcasting legend after his “Do you believe in miracles? Yes!” call at the 1980 Olympics when the U.S. men’s hockey team beat the Soviets. ML asks Neal how he prepared for the biggest moment of his broadcasting career.







Oakland’s season is done, but Neal never stops. He’s calling Detroit City Football Club games. He tells us where to watch DCFC for free and on cable.







For once, Shawn is not packing his bag to watch one of our local sports teams. So ML and Marc ask him where he’s headed next. Shawn says Vegas, but will he tell us what he expects to happen in Vegas?







Shawn asks who is the biggest star still playing college basketball during March Madness. His answer will surprise anyone … anyone who doesn’t know Shawn, that is.







Shawn doesn’t like the word “bum” — especially when it applies to the Detroit Pistons’ draft options. Find out why,







Marc asks Shawn to weigh in on ML’s response to a troll who dragged ML into an X battle after Marc’s Michigan Wolverines defeated ML’s Michigan State Spartans in the NCAA college hockey tournament. Shawn says ML was “factually correct,” but then sides with the forces of evil in the never-ending effort to take a good man down!







ML asks a pertinent question: Who is the little brother – the one who lets his accomplishments speak for themselves, or the one who has to tell everyone “Look at what I did, Daddy?” whenever something goes his way.







Big brothers, little brothers, sisters of all kinds, please 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,

Erika Erickson celebrates our 250th episode as we stay classy Detroit with a graphic conversation about dead bodies, crazy women with knives, placenta recipes and scandals that kept ML out of the National Honor Society.







STRAIGHT DOPE







Erika Erickson joins ML, Marc and Shawn as we mark a milestone: 250 episodes of ML’s Soul of Detroit. And what better way to mark such an august occasion than a discussion of decomposing bodies. But what do you expect when you’ve got three reporters on a show with a producer who loves true crime and legal matters?







Erika, who is now a communications specialist, can still be seen on a TV near you. She tells about her upcoming star turn on a true crime show that recounts a story she covered while working at Fox 2 Detroit. The chilling case involves an honor roll student who stabbed a classmate in a Warren high school. Of course, this provokes a story from ML about how a scandal kept him out of the National Honor Society.







Erika and Shawn swap stories about what it’s like to be in a courtroom when someone is convicted. Erika is still shaken by the eyes of the high school murderer. Find out why.







Marc accuses ML of fetish-shaming after the discussion turns to weirdos who obsess over things like the feet of women on TV. Erika says she and her friends get some very odd requests … none of which they fulfill!







ML impresses Erika by knowing what TRL stands for after Erika shares how she was on MTV back in high school. She didn’t get to meet Carson Daly and still has some hard feelings over how her mom made her go back to school instead of hanging out in NYC for another day.







Long before she became a TV reporter, Erika was a figure skater. She recalls her days of messing with her coach by flying around the rink when she should have been working on her double axels.







What do the MSU Board of Trustees have in common with the French version of the movie poster for “Dumb & Dumber?” ML explains in his latest “On Guard” column for the Detroit Free Press. Read it here.







If you missed Erika’s last appearance on the show, check it out here. 







Speaking of the Soul Patrol … PLEASE support our show 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. 







GEEK OF THE WEEK







A candidate who gave his concession speech before the polls closed didn’t win his race, but he can celebrate being this week’s geek!







ROOM 7609







Listener Joe K tells a great story about Washington Social Club and inspires us to play their “Charlie the Russian” track. Send us your favorite deep cut or obscure band – and a story about them or why they mean something to you – by writing tomlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com.







FEEDBACK







We welcome all your comments – and constructive criticism – at mlsoulofdetroit@gmail.com







DONATE OR SPONSOR US







Support us on Patreon or make a donation at mlsoulofdetroit.