McKechnie auditions too good for Tyler

Steven Tyler's abominable singing (if you can call it that) of our national anthem at last Sunday's AFC championship game got me to thinking.

The rock icon burnout would've bombed at McKechnie Field this Saturday morning.

That's when the Pirates and Marauders are holding auditions for singers good enough to perform the Star Spangled Banner.

He isn't.

Tyler probably would've put people in the stands for a Grapefruit League game, but so what.

Guaranteed they would've booed his skinny rear end out of the ballpark.

But enough about him.

The national anthem auditions are always a fun experience at McKechnie.

Unless you happen to be one of those unlucky people who forgets the words in mid-song.

That hasn't happened a lot in the years I've covered them.

Most folks perform smoothly, despite the elements (seems it's always windy) and the funky PA system setup where singers can hear themselves like an echo.

You get all types auditioning, too.

The truly talented types who make the cut year after year.

The young lady who talks in a whisper, yet belts out our national anthem like a virtuoso.

The woman who is out for her regular morning run, hears the singing and decides to try out herself.

The waitress you've been served by so many times, yet you didn't know she could sing like that.

I wonder if she'll be there again Saturday.

I'm looking forward to finding out.

They'll all put Steven what's-his-face to shame.

"Oooooh, say, can you seeeee ... "