By Stephen Spiewak
MaxPreps.com
STATEments is a MaxPreps feature aimed at exploring the popular culture of states across the country through the eyes of high school athletes. This week, we chat Wentzville Holt (Mo.) senior right-handed fireballer Tim Melville, a star pitcher for the Indians. Melville is committed to play baseball next year at the University of North Carolina, but is expected to be a high first round pick in next month's Major League Baseall amateur draft. Melville moved to Missouri from Virginia before he began high school, and has a unique perspective on life in the Show Me State.
Stephen Spiewak: What was the biggest change you experienced when you moved from Virginia to Missouri?
Tim Melville: I guess the people. They’re more Midwestern, different from the South. I really miss the beach. And having a pro team around. I had never been around a big pro team in Virginia. Going to Cardinals games, I had never experienced that atmosphere.
SS: What’s your favorite part about living in Missouri?
TM: I guess the Cardinals. Being around a winning team like that and getting to watch them.
SS: Now you realize the Cardinals broke my heart and left me crying in my apartment as a senior in college?
TM: Really! I like Boston, too. I kind of grew up watching the Braves. I like watching any baseball.
SS: If your favorite athlete were visiting you, where would you take him or her?
TM: Well, we got Wal-Mart. Just kidding. We got Lake St Louis, about five minutes away from my house. A lot of my friends go wake boarding. But definitely a Cardinals game.
SS: Do you think baseball in Missouri and the Midwest in general is underrated nationally?
TM: There are some good kids coming up, but no, actually I don’t. The competition is a little bit less, but there’s definitely some good kids.
SS: Friday night team dinner before a big game on Saturday, what’s on the menu?
TM: There’s one thing I always do before I pitch…I go Hardees and get a monster thick burger and I put that down. It’s about 5,000 calories.
SS: A match up of two Missouri high school teams of any sport that you’d pay to watch?
TM: Holt and (Fort Zumwalt) West. We beat them in the district championship. We just hate each other. It’s a great rivalry.
SS: Most popular athlete in Missouri right now?
TM: (Albert) Pujols, definitely. He’s the guy to watch. And (Rick) Ankiel is coming along.
SS: Biggest tourist attraction in Missouri?
TM: It’d have to be Busch Stadium. Its just amazing. And the Arch is a national monument.
SS: What do life-long Missouri residents do for fun?
TM: Probably like to play washers (similar to horseshoes) a lot, and go tubing on the river. There’s a ton of old Cardinals fanatics that just go to every single game, and have been going to every game since they were nine years old.
SS: Best current high school athlete in Missouri that the country should be aware of?
TM: I’ve heard Blaine Gabbert (Nebraska-bound quarterback from Parkway West) is pretty good at football. I think baseball wise, Cody Asche, Fort Zumwalt West. He’s going to be good.
SS: Kansas City or St. Louis, which is the cooler Missouri city?
TM: St. Louis, definitely. We got the Cardinals, the science museum, Forest Park, a huge park with a zoo and an ice skating rink. I just think there’s a lot more to do.
SS: Have you ever been to Kansas City?
TM: Actually, no!
SS: If the government forced you to move to another state, where would you go?
TM: Probably Hawaii.
SS: Why?
TM: Why not? Close to the beach, do the surfing, beautiful mountains.
SS: No state has more bordering states than Missouri. Which is your favorite?
TM: Hmm. I don’t think I’ve visited many of them. They’re all the same to me. Cornfields and that’s about it.
SS: Summertime. When you and your teammates aren’t training, where do you find a summer job?
TM: Probably life guarding at the pool. Or working at some golf courses. Driving around some golf carts, doing that kind of stuff.
SS: You’re directing a horror film in your state. For the first scene, you go to…?
TM: Probably right out down on Joplin, it’s called Spook Light. It’s an old highway road, there’s some phenomenon, where a white light travels along the road, scientists can’t explain.
SS: It’s late at night, and you need a snack…where do you go?
TM: Usually Steak and Shake, or Jack In The Box. It’s right there in town.
SS: More popular in Missouri…baseball or football?
TM: Baseball, definitely.
SS: Even when the Rams were good?
TM: Yeah, I think it’s always been baseball.
SS: Embarrassing fad that swept over your state that you don’t like to admit you took part in?
TM: I could think of one that I didn’t take part in…the Birkenstock craze, when everyone started wearing Birkenstocks. I didn’t even know what they were till I moved out here. Everybody had them.
SS: Someone says Missouri. First word that comes to your mind?
TM: Show Me State.
SS: You’re trying to describe where you live to someone from out of state. What do you say?
TM: I live exactly 45 miles west of St. Louis.
SS: Missouri is probably most famous for what?
TM: Probably the Cardinals. They also catch big catfish in the Mississippi around here.
SS: Most famous athlete in your opinion to come from Missouri?
TM: Mark Buehrle (White Sox ace, from St. Charles), I’m pretty sure he came from here. That’s all I know of.
SS: Your favorite professional team in Missouri?
TM: Cardinals.
SS: Who is the most popular college athlete in your state that you can remember?
TM: Chase Daniel (Missouri quarterback) is pretty popular.
SS: I’m not familiar with the lay of the land in Missouri. What are some animals you have in Missouri that I probably don’t encounter in New Jersey?
TM: Alligator snapping turtles…they’re huge. Their shells can get up to two feet long. They can bite your hand off. I learned that yesterday in the Bass Pro Shop.
SS: If you could adopt one current celebrity to be an honorary citizen of your state, who would you want to pick?
TM: Jessica Alba, I guess.
SS: If you could represent your state by playing against a top team from another state for bragging rights, what state would you want to face?
TM: Probably Florida, against American Heritage. Some of my boys are there, (Eric) Hosmer and (Adrian) Nieto. They can be cocky so I’d love to play them.
SS: Longest you’ve ever been away from Missouri since you moved there?
TM: Probably three months. We go back to Virginia in the summer.
SS: Do you miss it?
TM: Yea, usually. By the end I’m ready to get back and get school started.
SS: Fashion trend in Missouri that you think looks silly?
TM: I think Crocs are pretty ridiculous right now. They’re getting out of hand. They’re coming up with everything right now.
SS: What will you miss most about Missouri next year, when you go to North Carolina or sign professionally?
TM: My girlfriend.
