CBJ FANSided Friday – Dancing Kevin Schroeder
Welcome to the fifth edition of CBJ FANSided Friday! In this series we will post a short interview with a fan from the Blue Jackets community and ask them about their Jackets fandom.
This week I had the opportunity to interview a very well-known person in the world of the Columbus Blue Jackets and Columbus sports, “Dancing Kevin” Schroeder. Kevin is a regular face (and belly) in Nationwide Arena, who provides much entertainment between the occasional TV timeout. He can be followed on Twitter: @kschroeder1720
U&B: When did you first become a Blue Jackets fan, and what drew you towards the team?
Kevin:
"“Dancing Kevin” SchroederMandatory Credit: Rob Leifheit-USA TODAY SportsI became a Bluejackets fan on June 25, 1997 when the NHL announced that Columbus was getting a team. I have always been a hockey fan, growing up in Dayton watching the Dayton Gems then the Dayton Bombers. Plus, back then, I was a Red Wings fan. I was a big fan of Stevie Y (Steve Yzerman), Dino Ciccarelli, Brendan Shanahan and Sergei Fedorov. (By the way, I can’t stand the Wings anymore, that’s what ten years of getting our butts kicked by them will do to you). So when they announced we were getting a team, I was in 1000% and couldn’t wait for them to hit the ice."
U&B: If I’m not mistaken, you actually live in Colorado, correct?
Kevin:
"I used to live in Colorado. I’m back here in Columbus. Funny story actually, I flew in for the last [Blue Jackets] game of the season last May, and stayed. True story. I work at the Buckeye Corner on Sawmill selling all the Buckeye gear any fun-loving buckeye needs or wants."
U&B: Do you still perform stand-up comedy?
Kevin:
"I have been known to dabble in it. I have been doing stand-up for ten years. I wouldn’t say I’m very good though, but it’s fun, and I enjoy it. Here is a clip of me doing stand-up at the Funny Bone here in town a couple years ago. I haven’t really done any since I’ve moved back, but have itching to get back up on stage! Maybe soon I’ll be begging all of you to come see me make a fool of myself…Wait, I already do that."
U&B: Do you have help or suggestions when coming up with your “body messages”?
Kevin:
"People ask me all the time how I come up with my belly paint, or “belly love” as I like to call it. From many places really…sometimes it just comes to me, or other times I will ask for suggestions from twitter followers or followers on my Dancing Kevin Facebook page. If there is a really good one I use it, or all the suggestions will spark something I hadn’t thought about."
U&B: Who does the body painting?
Kevin:
"Haha…any person brave enough to do it! Actually, most of the time my buddy does it, but lately people have been asking to do it. I’ll let them if they really want to. It’s a weird problem to have."
“Dancing Kevin” Schroeder on the Nationwide Arena scoreboard.
U&B: Who is your favorite Blue Jackets player on the current roster?
Kevin:
"That’s a really hard question actually. But I think I have to give the nod to the only Blue Jacket that has signed my belly, Nick Foligno. Great guy!"
U&B: If you could choose the teams next captain right now, who would it be?
Kevin:
"Simple answer. The one who brings it every day on and off the ice, Brandon Dubinsky. That guy just knows what it takes to perform at this level, and he holds himself and his team accountable."
U&B: Who is your favorite team to see the Jackets beat, and why?
Kevin:
"Detroit, of course. They’ve beat us so bad for so long, and destroyed our dreams in the only playoff series we’ve ever got to experience up to this point, that to cause them even an inkling of pain is music to my ears. So, last year when we took points from them in every game, and their only points against us was an overtime winner made last year the sweetest year for me in the entire history of the franchise. The 19-5-5 down the stretch helped too."
U&B: Did you create Nationwide Arena’s “Dancing Kevin” sandwich? I have to admit, it looks pretty tasty.
Kevin:
"The “Dancing Kevin” Sandwich from Nationwide Arena. Photo by: Kevin SchroederMmmm the Dancing Kevin. If you haven’t had it, you have no idea what you’re missing. Actually, I can’t take credit for that one. That is totally from the brilliant mind of Nationwide Arena Chef John DiGiovanni. He approached me about making a sandwich in my honor, and asked me what I liked. I said pork and cheese and well, he came up with the masterpiece that is the Dancing Kevin. It is so yummy! I’m drooling just thinking about it now!"