Zachariah Selwyn, raised in Tucson, and one of the three finalists for the original ESPN "Dream Job," will host the UA basketball program's season kickoff event - Midnight Madness - in McKale Center tonight. Selwyn is currently a host of "Extreme Dodgeball" on Game Show Network and has a band called Zachariah and the Lobos Riders.
Wildcat: What's the best thing about Midnight Madness?
Selwyn: I think it's a good time for the students to come out and get hammered. Also, you get to watch the new players and the new recruits. You get an early peek at the talent we're bringing in this year.
Wildcat: How does it feel coming back to Tucson?
Selwyn: It's a lot better than coming back for Thanksgiving. It's nicer to have something fun to do like hosting Midnight Madness.
Wildcat: What was your reaction when Arizona asked you to be the host?
Selwyn: I was stoked. I was just like, "Nice." When they called, I said "that's sweet." I was always thinking, "wouldn't it be cool if they asked me to do that?" When I met with the guys, it became that much more real, looking out at McKale, envisioning the whole career that I've had watching U of A hoops.
Wildcat: Did you grow your hair back out after "Dream Job?"
Selwyn: Hell yeah!
Wildcat: Did you regret cutting it when you were on the show?
Selwyn: Not at all. I didn't cut it enough; that's what they hated about it. I look like a cross between Johnny Damon and Goose Gossage, but I'll take it.
Wildcat: Who's your favorite current UA player?
Selwyn: I like Hassan (Adams) because he's so electrifying, but I really think Mustafa Shakur has a lot of potential too. There are so many good guys.
Wildcat: Who's your favorite former UA player?
Selwyn: Sean Elliott. When I was about 9 years old, he was the first really big sports guy out of Tucson. He played for the Cats. He had the knee injury and he overcame that. I watched him play all those games at McKale and he blew me away. He survived the kidney disease that he had. He won a championship with the Spurs, and now he's a sportscaster for ESPN. He's always stood up for Tucson. I have nothing but love for Sean.
Wildcat: What's your bigger passion, music or sports?
Selwyn: It depends what I'm doing at the time. When I was doing the ESPN thing, it was sports. But there's times when I'm going from city to city and it's music and singing. I'm hard to pin down. At times I'm the world's biggest sports fan. Then there's other times when I'm like, dude I want to be a rock star.
Wildcat: What do you want to do in the future?
Selwyn: I'd love to be like Jack Black - someone who's able to do music and movies, host shows and be funny. I'd also like to take sports into a comedic element. I'd like to some daily show, "Sportscenter" kind of thing. It's hard to get all those things together. I think there's room in the world for a lighter side of sports. It's all about watching sports and having a good time. That's why I'm bringing the madness.