TIGER CONNECTION

Andy Bird is beginning his second season as the head groundskeeper at Rec Sports.  Andy obtained his degree from Michigan State University in Turf Management.  Prior to coming to Rec Sports, Andy spent two years working on the grounds crew for the West Michigan Whitecaps and one year working on the grounds crew for the Detroit Tigers.  Andy also plays softball at the Rec Sports Complex. 

1.      What do you like best about taking care of the fields at the Rec Sports Complex? What I like most about taking care of the fields at Rec Sports is having the opportunity to create and maintain a safe and aesthetically attractive sports complex for the players to enjoy.

2.      Briefly describe your experiences at Fifth Third Ballpark working for the Grand Rapids Whitecaps?  This is how I got into Sports Turf management. It started out as a part-time summer job one summer and evolved into a full-time internship the next. This was the launching point for my career.

3.     Briefly describe your experiences at Comerica Park working for the Detroit Tigers?  To this day this is my biggest career accomplishment. Having the opportunity to work for Heather Nabozny (Head Groundkeeper, Comerica Park) was an amazing opportunity. I learned so much from this experience that I use daily out at the sports complex.

4.      Briefly describe your education at Michigan State?  I graduated from the Sports and Commercial Turf Management Program at Michigan State. This program is one of the top 3 Sports Turf programs in the United States.

5.      How are you planning on improving the grounds at the Rec Sports Complex?  We don’t have the same budget or man power that the Detroit Tigers have at Comerica Park.   Some things to look for this upcoming year would be, a more consistently smooth playing surface, bases in great shape, groomed warning tracks, rolling edges of the infield, keeping fouls lines groomed and adding a small retaining wall behind field 1.

6.    Describe your sports experiences growing up (Little league, middle school, high school, college).    I played soccer and ran track for Sparta High School. When I got to college at Michigan State they had intramural sports. I got involved in soccer, basketball, and sand volleyball. Now, I play rec softball for my church and at Rec Sports. Sports are one of the reasons that I’m a turf manager today because I love being around the sports atmosphere.

7.     What’s your favorite TV show?  Iron Chef America

8.      What’s your favorite movie?  Rat Race

9.      Who is your favorite actor or actress?  Adam Sandler.

10.  What’s your favorite food?  Anything Mexican

11.  Who is your favorite athlete and why (this can be any sport)?  It’s hard for me to single out one player.   I’m more of a team kind of guy.