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SKEESPN: Hi Brian, good morning!

Brian: And to you as well, good sir.

SKEESPN: How do you feel knowing that Opening Night of Skeeson IX is just around the corner?

Brian: I have never in my life bought into the "Christmas in July" stuff... but this year, I must say, I'm a sucker. It feels like Christmas Eve.

SKEESPN: Glad to hear you are so excited. What parts of your game do you hope to improve upon, if any, this skeeson?

Brian: I improved vastly over the course of Skeeson VIII, but the thing I am aiming for this skeeson is to be more consistent. I have Found the 40, but I just need to do it on a more regular basis. I can tend to psych myself out a bit after a few bad shots. I need to be able to bounce back and roll with authority.

SKEESPN: Your team has received both good and bad feedback from fans about your name change this off-skeeson. For the record, why did you decide to change your name from Bob Skeeger to The Beaskee Boys?

Brian: You are correct - the criticism has been on both ends of the spectrum and nothing in between. Other Brewskee-Ballers either love it or hate it. As you know, I am a huge Bob S(ke)eger fan, so the original name fit. But in order for our team to take the next step, get to the next level of Skee-Stardom, we needed a name that truly embodied the spirit of the team as a whole. I was the one roller who was a passionate S(ke)eger fan, but we are all fans of the Beastie Boys.

We have also determined that by rolling as the Beaskee Boys, that we each have a specific Beastie Boys song that we will use to pump us up and get us in the zone, help us Find the 40.

Skeevie Nash rocks out to No Skeep 'Til Brooklyn
Skeep to My Lou is all about Rhymin' and Skeelin'
And yours truly is inspired by the Sure Shot

SKEESPN: Do you plan on using those songs during match play before each of you roll, similar to a baseball player's "walk-up song", which is played right before they hit, to both introduce them and fire them up?

Brian: That is the plan for this skeeson, just for our first roll of the match. I would expect our first game, this coming Sunday, will be quite the spectacle once we step into Ace Bar.

SKEESPN: To avoid confusion for our readers, the Beaskee Boys roll in The Monday Division, right?

Brian: The Beaskee Boys do roll on Mondays. Unfortunately, the big fella here will be traveling on business this Monday. Thankfully we have a couple great Skee.E.O.'s running the league who were able to schedule a match that would work for us.

SKEESPN: When you look at The Monday Division picture, where do you see The Beaskee Boys?

Brian: It's tough to judge, because there is a lot of talent near the top of the Monday Division. Being only our second skeeson, we are confident we will improve over our performance last skeeson, but the question is, how much?

SKEESPN: You tell me!

Brian: We have done a lot of work on our individual and team game this off-skeeson. Nash has been studying Ocean's mechanics, and revamping his own. Skeep has been hard at work solidifying his game as well. And Juice has taken me under his wing, giving me plenty of helpful pointers.

Brian: I don't want to sit here and talk to you about playoffs (PLAYOFFS?!?!?!?!), but that is the goal for the Beaskee Boys in Skeeson IV.

SKEESPN: We're in Skeeson IX!

You weren't born during Skeeson IV.

Brian: I haven't had my coffee this morning, I got thrown off by the roman numerals.

You know what I mean, Eric.

SKEESPN: I told you not to use my real name!

Brian: That's what she said.

SKEESPN: Ok, let's get serious Roundy

What do you think about Skeechiro switching from the Wednesday to the Sunday Division?

Brian: I think it is an earth-shattering move. If you can compete in the Sunday Division, you know you have Found the 40. Not in the history of sport have you seen a realignment of power approaching the magnitude of this.

I think it is great for the game - the level of competition, the intensity, the camaraderie. The fans are in for a treat.

SKEESPN: Did you hear that Skeechiro will be rolling against Fabio; on Skee-Ball on Opening Night? A re-creation of the Skeeson VIII Championship Match.

Brian: This is exactly what the fans of Brewskee-Ball want to see. And you know that Juice will be rolling with a vengeance.

SKEESPN: On a side note, The Home Run Derby is this Monday, who do you think is going to win?

Brian: I think Ryan Braun is going to surprise a lot of people. He's the defending NL Rookie of the Year and led the player voting for NL outfielders, but a lot of people still don't know who he is. That being said, I think Josh Hamilton is going to take the crown.

SKEESPN: Cool, I know it's early, but who do you think will win The BROTY this skeeson?

Brian: This is a lot of pressure to put on the defending BROTY POOL Winner.

SKEESPN: Just a fun early prediction...

I won't hold you to it!

Brian: It is really tough to bet against Ocean, but I think Juice will regain the crown. But there are a few interesting sleepers out there, including Snake Anthony, The Professor, Power...

SKEESPN: The Professor, along with Skee Patrol are not rolling this skeeson.

They have rolled in all 8 skeesons up until now. They have been the face of Brewskee-Ball for a long time.

Brian: Is this going to be a Brett Favre situation? Will we see The Professor rolling as an alternate on another team this skeeson?

SKEESPN: So far, SKEESPN has been unable to get a statement from a Skee Patrol representative, but The Professor's agent did make a brief and rather vague public address.

He said, "The Professor has chosen not to roll with Skee Patrol this skeeson."

According to SKEESPN's Skeeth Oberman, that leaves the door open for a possible comeback with another team, or yes, a late skeeson alternate scenario.

Brian: That will be an interesting developing story throughout the skeeson. I wouldn't be surprised to see him rolling on Sunday BROTY Sunday.

SKEESPN: That is unlikely, as you need to roll at least 7 matches to contend, and with the skeeson beginning this Sunday, he doesn't have much time to be reinstated.

SKEESPN: Switching gears back to the Beaskee Boys, I heard that they have very groovy new team jerseys this skeeson.

Brian: We did decide to get team jerseys - we really wanted to come together and unite as one. We are excited for the debut of the entire new ensemble... the uniforms, the music, the increased number of 40s.

SKEESPN: As you know there are quite a few rookie teams this skeeson, many on Sunday. Do you have any advise for them, as you head into your Sophomore Skeeson this summer?

Brian: My main piece of advice is to not get caught up in each individual match - sure, it is nice to win, but don't sacrifice your final frame by rolling Hundos (does not apply to Hundo Rollers) to go for the win, because at the end of the skeeson, the playoffs aren't decided by your win/loss record.

SKEESPN: Great tip Roundy!

Brian: And don't be afraid to ask a veteran roller for advice - more often than not they can be an excellent resource.

SKEESPN: ...but the match winner pins are pretty sweet though!

Brian: The pins are incredibly sweet. But if you focus on Finding the 40, the pins will come on their own.

SKEESPN: We are introducing a new pin this skeeson.

Brian: Intriguing...

SKEESPN: A 46+ pin! To reward Hundo Rollers...

46 and higher cant be achieved without at least one hundo, 40's and 50's can't do it alone.

Brian: That is what I love about this league, and the Skee.E.O.'s. You are willing to embrace a growing trend, and reward this new breed of Brewskee-Baller.

SKEESPN: We understand that rollers adapt, get bigger, faster and stronger, and that growth is a healthy thing for the league.

Brian: I'll be sure to inform our top alternate, Rockskee Balboa, of the new pin. He is an emerging Hundo Roller.

SKEESPN: Alrighty, before I let you go back to work, a few "left field" questions...

If you could roll any type of fruit down a Skee-Ball lane what would it be?

Brian: It is a tie: I'd love to see what would happen if I rolled a watermelon down the lane. But I would also love to say that I rolled a Cherry using Cherries.

SKEESPN: I would love to see that as well!

SKEESPN: If someone made the following bet with you would you take it?

One frame, every 40 you make you get $100, every 40 you miss you pay $200.

Brian: Is this a trick question to see if I would bet on the holy ground that is Brewskee-Ball? I want to stay eligible for the Hall Of Fame.

SKEESPN: It wasn't a trick question, but definitely a hypothetical. Good answer though, you have learned from Skeete Rose.

Brian: Hypothetically, yes, I would take that bet.

SKEESPN: How much do you think you would walk away with?

Brian: Somewhere between a massive debt and $600.

I'll guess that I would walk away with $300 though.

SKEESPN: Okay Roundy, give the people something to watch tonight.

Brian: King Felix returns to the mound tonight for the Skeeattle Mariners against the Kansas City Royals. It is his first game back since hitting a Grand Slam off of Johan Santana of the Mets. For my money, he's the most exciting young pitcher in baseball.

SKEESPN: Thanks Roundy, and good luck this summer. I hope to see you on the cover of SKEESPN at some point.

SKEESPN: Goodnight Canada!

Brian: See you on Sunday, knuckleheads!