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Ain't Nothing But a Ming Thing: Pulltab
by: Matthew Ralph

When diehard sports fans Chance McClain and Kevin Ryan chose the 7-foot-6 Yao Ming as a subject for a song, they had no idea what they were getting themselves into.

Like the Houston Rockets, the NBA team that gambled on the biggest basketball product from the most densely populated country in the world, selecting him first in the 2002 draft, neither fully understood just how huge the song and the player on which it was based would become just a few months into the 2002-2003 season.

Written before Ming ever played a game in the NBA, the words: "Take him to the hole, he'll flat cold cock you/Forget about Shaq, he could stuff Chewbacca" have since proven time and time again to be prophetic.

And by now, most Rockets fans in the states and in China have heard the song. In fact, many whether they like it or not have probably long given up trying to get the simple yet infectious words out of their head, which is essentially the repeating of Yao Ming to the tune of the soccer anthem "Ole,Ole,Ole" with some spicy lines about Ming's prowess thrown in for good measure.

Simply titled "It's A Ming Thing," the song has quickly established the duo of former high school buddies known as Pulltab, who reunited after a decade hiatus to pen songs about obscure athletes for local sports talk radio.

To say Pulltab has become an overnight sensation would be an understatement. Well, sort of.

"We know we're the 'Macarana'," McClain quickly admitted on the phone from his home in Texas. "We know that plenty of people are buying our CD for that song."

But what separates the song from traditional "one hit wonders" is the country where it is in most demand.

"People in China are listening to our song over breakfast," said McClain, referring to the broadcasts in the country of Rockets games, where the Pulltab hit has become a fixture.

That kind of exposure coupled with Ming's early impact as a basketball player stateside and now as a marketing force with commercials for Apple, Gatorade, and Visa, has pushed two ordinary sports fans from behind their televisions watching Sportscenter to being guests on the show.

"When Steve Francis picked that #1 draft ball he literally won the lottery," McClain said. "Well, we figuratively won it."

Their debut live performance was in front of a sold out Compaq Center crowd at half-time and in February their debut CD "Greatest Hit" was released on independent label Reel Connection Records, an album that in the title wastes no time poking at the duo's sudden fame.

The album, which has a silhouetted Ming on the cover, starts with "It's a Ming Thing" and continues through 10 additional tracks that blend elements of rock, rap, alternative, country, and reggae. In all but one song, the Barenaked Ladies-esque "It's a Song", the main focus is sports.

"Kevin and I have somehow turned my two greatest passions, sports and music, into a business," said McClain.

The media attention has only helped add to the buzz and a kind of spotlight rarely applied to budding artists. Daily interviews have become the norm ‹ an Associated Press article on the song ran in more than 5,000 newspapers in early January.

McClain and Ryan have suddenly found themselves in the fold of players, broadcasters, and the management of their favorite basketball team.

"I'm standing on the floor of the Compaq Center talking to Bill friggin' Walton. 'Mr. Walton, my name is Chance McClain and my band will be performing at halftime. I would be honored if you would have one of my CDs as a gift, sir.''And he said, 'Yeah...um...I'll try and listen to it. Who are you guys again?'

"Never mind that he was already drifting away talking to Les Alexander (Rockets owner); the point is I got to meet him. And being on ESPN, Fox Sports, and all of the networks has been spectacular. They are playing our songs during the sports segment of the news. It's perfect!"

While much of the attention has been garnered for one song, the group's debut shows their ability to write more than a single catchy tune.

"I know how every kid supposedly dreams of playing in the big leagues, but isn't busting on big leaguers and getting your songs out there just as cool," McClain quipped.

"We always overstate the obvious," he continued. "Daryl Ward, the former Astros outfielder, has had a weight problem his entire career. The media always candy-coated this obvious fact. They would say, 'Ward came into spring ball looking to be in the best shape of his career and by Opening Day he should be ready.' That was such bullshit. Yeah he was in the best shape of his career but for shitís sake heís being paid to play baseball. Freakin' jog! Stop eating! If you read the lyrics to the song we are pretty critical of D-Dub...but we are honest. If he lost weight he would be a force in the majors. 'If you rate him on a scale of 1 to 10 you'd see that his talents an 11 but his waist (waste) a 43.' Likewise Jeff Kent has a porno moustache. Everybody knows it. His moustache looks like he should be in a bad porno flick. So we tell everyone about it."

The response of the players has been at times mixed, but it is always the sense of humor behind the songs that is the driving force, McClain said.

"Yao Ming has to be growing tired of his anthem. I shook his hand in the tunnel after a game and he was very cordial. Did I mention he is tall? The other athletes have all been cool and flattered. Mike Quinn, the legendary former Stephen F. Austin Lumberjack and present day third string Texans quarterback had us going for awhile that he was pissed about it but it was BS. He liked his song. Steve McKinney is one of the coolest guys on earth. Aaron Glenn and I had some mutual acquaintances. I think The Titans all want me dead but screw 'em. The Cowboys suck and are not entitled to an opinion. I know Jose Lima didn't respond too well, but he is one of the few to have that kind of reaction. I actually got to chill with Lima Time last week in studio and he's cool as ice. He's probably kickin' it to The 'Jeff Kent Song' as we speak, cruising the streets of Houston in his Benz looking for a job."

He and Ryan both religiously watch Sportscenter, read the sports pages and listen to sports radio for inspiration, looking for the little details that can make for interesting and humorous songs. The result is kind of like what would happen if They Might Be Giants drew a bulk of inspiration from sports radio and TV instead of science fiction and geek culture.

But trying to equate Pulltab to other bands, many of which struggle up through ranks of an endless supply of bands with a CD and a dream of a record contract, is a difficult task considering the group played its first live show in front of a packed arena and a country of viewers on the other side of the earth.

Pulltab's close relationship with the sports world has them carving a completely different path for their future, however short-lived it may be.

"It is backwards," McClain said. "It's beautifully ass-backwards. The music behind the lyrics is truly good but there are tens of thousands of really good musicians out there that have not caught a break. And there are even thousands of incredibly gifted bands that have amazing lyrics and music that never get a sniff. Then along comes Pulltab, we find a niche, get lucky...who knows where it will lead."

And wherever it leads, the duo of Pulltab is poised and ready to ride the wave that all started with a simple song about a new number one draft pick.

posted 04.27.03

2003 White Elephant Productions