Rapper stars and awkward moments

Is it ever a good idea to have no-baseball guests in the booth for games?

No. Never.

Eminem and Jay-Z made a "big announcement" during yesterday's game in Detroit, which, sure, the two of them doing what Ken Singleton called "home-at-home" concerts (good call Ken) is kind of a big deal, but despite the two rappers presenting themselves well and Michael Kay embracing his whiteness and not trying to yo-yo them into oblivion, you still got the impression that:

Jay-Z and Eminem are shy, or at least uncomfortable doing interviews that don't require extreme behavior or bravado. They also seemed more interested in what was happening on the field.

Most people have nothing in common with those two guys. Maybe some people — friends or those who grew up in similar circumstances — did at one point, but starting in poverty and getting where they are puts them in no-man's land. The may have credibility because of their backgrounds, but they can't go back, and they don't actually fit in the circles of wealth.

Michael's Kay best question, "Would you trade what you have to play a sport?" wasn't answered properly, it was answered with deference to the players. Essentially: No, baseball is too hard. But that wasn't the question.

Also got the impression Eminem wasn't much of a baseball fan. The Lions talk got him excited, though.

Best moment was at the end when Kay and Singleton almost shook hands with each other. Each looked at the hand in front of him and, quickly identified it was the wrong color, looked at each other, and redirected.

Second best moment was Kay telling Eminem what a great song "Lose Yourself" was, and how it was responsible for his great shape. Is he joking? Is he serious. The guy's a cowboy hat shy of being Twinkie the Kid.

Oh, and Yankees handed out a beat down. Finally.