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2008 DC/Baltimore Slam Team

Kyle Eichmann is a relative new-comer to SLAMicide, having only been slamming with us for a few months.  However, in those few months, he has worked hard, earning a slot at finals, earning a spot on the team, and earning the title of 2008 Baltimore Grand Slam Champion!

Twain Dooley is a first generation American. Born and raised in Washington, DC he learned to use language to talk himself into and out of inner-city challenges. He joined the Army Reserves and served on active duty during Desert Storm. After a two year stay in Guantanamo Bay, Cuba (as a civilian), he returned to his home town and began to perform his poetry for a variety of audiences. Twain wrote several books and toured as founding member with The Modern Urban Griots. He has opened for Amiri Baraka and Jimmy "JJ" Walker. He has earned a spot on the DC/Baltimore slam a record team six times, once as the Grand Slam Champion. Twain has been called, "funny", "clever", "insightful", and some other things that you probably wouldn't print in a bio. He currently shares his love of words with students and is working on the story of his life, "None Of This Makes Sense".

Chris Wilson has been acclaimed by those who know secretly he has no ego and the least bit of stroking it will get you everywhere. Usually these people mean well, but sometimes they want money or a ride somewhere. He teaches writing in Harford County and founded youth slam in the public school system. While these efforts seem altruistic, it is really just because he is drafting a frighteningly-talented poetic army. He doesn’t want to take anything over; he’s just enamored with concept of being called Admiral Wilson. ALL HANDS ON DECK.

Ryan Mergen has been in and around the poetry scene for several years, starting out in San Jose, CA.  A few years ago, he came to the Baltimore area for a change of pace, where he has consistently performed well.  Having slammed around the country and around the world, Ryan is a powerhouse to be reckoned with!

And the Coach of the 2008 Baltimore Poetry Slam Team:

A high school student compared Chris August to pop rocks. Another compared him to a fruit roll-up. He's still coming to terms with that second one. Sonya Renee calls him her baby daddy. Sallie Mae calls him delinquent. The Baltimore County Police Department has called him by three different prisoner numbers. The DC/ Baltimore slam team has called him a member for the past four years, and the 2005 Individual World Poetry Slam peeps called him number 7 in the world. Cynthia French once said that whoever invented Jolt Cola probably got the idea from watching him. Queen Sheba says he's hurtful, but she also says she's at the forefront of the fight for humanity. His mom says he's a nice boy. His fifth grade home room teacher said he wasn't living up to his potential. They're all probably right.