* * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * From Major League Baseball 2001: The Official Guide To The Pre-season Page 52 Vibe Section by Erin Whiteside CENTERSTAGE When it comes down to the thrill and the skill, ballplayers and musicians have a lot in common. Music creates a certain drama in baseball. No come-from-behind rally really starts until the theme song from Rocky blares out over the sound system. The Yankees' Marian Rivera runs onto the field under the deafening tones of Metallica's "Enter Sandman", Trevor Hoffman bursts through the bullpen door in San Diego to AC/DC's "Hells Bells", and at Dodger Stadium, Randy Newman's "I Love LA" stirs even the most tranquil Southern California fans. With music and baseball intertwined --- so much that many players carefully choose the song that will play before their at-bat --- it's no wonder that musicians and baseball players often cross paths. This maybe why Giants shortstop Rich Aurilia and Goo Goo dolls drummer Mike Malinin have formed a unique bond. Aurilia met Malinin and the other members of the rock band while he was on vacation with his wife in Maui. They began talking and revealed a mutual respect for each others' professions. Many baseball players, after all, aspire to be musicians --- and viceversa --- and when it comes to their amazing skills and ability to perform in front of thousands of fans, these two entertainers have a lot in common. "(Musicians) are very close to the crowds," Aurilia says. "It's something that you envy about people like that because they have the guts and the talent to perform up there." Finding the nerves to perform on the big stage is nothing new to Aurilia, either. He shrugged off any pressure he may have felt in Game 1 of last year's NL Division Series to go 2 for 4 in the Giants' 5-1 win over the Mets. "(Mike) asked me if I ever hear anything when I'm playing, and I said no," Aurilia says. "He said that he doesn't hear it, either --- that he's immersed in his music." Malinin grew up playing catcher for his various Little Leagueteams in Florida ---- he idolized Johnny Bench and the Reds --- before switching to shortstop as he go older. However, it was his talent with drumsticks, not a Louisvillle Slugger, that ultimately landed him a spot with the Goo Goo Dolls. He maintained his baseball ties over the years, and in 1996 worked with Major League Baseball on a television commercial in which his group sang "Take Me Out To the Ballgame". In the spot, he worked with Major League players Mike Piazza, Eric Karros, and Jason Schmidt. In fact, after Schmidt became a Pirate, Malinin took some light batting practice with the team. Now a Marlins fan, Malinin has attended the last five World Series, and was lucky enough to watch Florida win it all in 1997. After meeting Aurilia, he began to support the Giants' shortstop, going to several ballgames, and hanging out with him afterward --- when the two busy entertainers could coordinate their schedules. And because Malinin enjoys baseball so much, he appreciates it even more that Aurilia values his time in the game. "Rich is actually a big fan of baseball," Malinin says. "You'd think that players might get jaded, but the greatest thing about him is that he talks about baseball with a little kid spark in his eyes." Aurilia has yet to attend a Goo Goo Dolls concert, but says he will use the open invitation that Malinin has given him to go backstage. "As a kid, you used to make fun of the kids who played instruments," Aurilia says with a laugh. "Looking back, I wish I had learned to play something." Any chance of him taking lessons on the drums from Malinin? "Maybe when I retire." Aurilia says. "Right now, I'll just concentrate on playing ball and listening to the professionals." * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * * The full page article included a 3 by 3 inch pic of Mike behind the drums, slightly out of focus...and a small pic of Rich Aurilia. I (finally) found the magazine at Walmart... for $6.99...for those still looking.