Major League Lilian (WOW Magazine - December 2000) by Scott Bennett Lilian Garcia's singing skills are just a prelude to the WWF ring announcer's aspirations. "Hot" was the word of the day at Wrigley Field on Aug. 31, 2000, in Chicago. The weather was hot (93 degrees), the hot dogs were hot, and the crowd's reaction to the singing of the national anthem before the game between the Cubs and the San Diego Padres was hot as well. OK, the only thing not hot was the Cubs' win-loss record. But for professional wrestling fans attending the baseball game, none of the above mattered much. Lilian Garcia, World Wiestling Federation ring announcer, treated the crowd to her rendition of "The Star Spangled Banner," which she sings before live WWF events. Wrestling fans may know of Garcia's singing abilities, but they probably don't know of her recording artist ambitions. In the following interview, conducted about 15 rows behind home plate, Garcia talks about her singing aspirations, her fluency in Spanish and her experience as the first full-time, female ring announcer for the WWF. Q: You've sung the national anthem at the Puerto Rican Day Parade in New York City, at Wrestlemania and now in Wrigley Field, the baseball shrine of the Chicago Cubs, to name a few. Which has stood out the most? A: I wish I could say one, but they are all so individual. There I was in New York, on Fifth Avenue lined with people getting ready to start the parade that's a whole experience. Then I was in the middle of the ring at Wrestlemania in Anaheim [Calif.], completely sold out - that was an unbelievable experience. And now here I am at a ballfield. They've all been quite an experience. Q: What went through your mind after Vince McMahon named you the singer of the national anthem at Wrestlemania this year? A: At first I couldn't believe it. I keep asking, 'I am? I am?' When it sunk in, I went into tears. Before me, Aretha Franklin, Boyz II Men, Gladys Knight and Reba McEntire sang it. What acts to follow! It was very emotional. Q: You are an aspiring recording artist. What's the story? A: I formed a band under my name. When I started with the WWF [in August 1999], I had to put that on the back burner. But as soon as I get home from WWF events, I go straight into the recording studio, which has been very exciting. I've always kept myself in the studio recording songs I've either co-written or songs that have come to me that I reallv believe in. I just finished recording three tunes that I really like, but now that I hear them I think, 'No, maybe we should go in this direction.' So it's always good to get into the studio, because you can fine tune things and see where your niche is. And I think I'm closer to that. It would be a dream come true to release a CD. The fans now have gotten to know me as a singer, and they are all asking,'Where's the CD?' Q: Who are your favorite singers or bands? A: I'm widespread as far as the type of music I like. When I was little, my mom was always playing Karen Carpenter. I've always liked listening to her, because she has such a sultry voice. Growing up I loved Pat Benatar, she was one of my favorites. I still put her CDs in. She just sings with so much attitude. I loved the band Heart. Now I listen to Matchbox Twenty. They are my favorite band out there right now. I would love to do a duet with Rob Thomas some day. I even like to listen to Shania Twain. I don't listen to a lot of country, but she's a nice crossover. I love to see her perform; she's a true performer. Q: How else have yen used your singing abilities? A: Since I grew up in Spain, I'm fluent in Spanish. I did a JC Penney commercial in Spanish and an ad for the soft drink Squirt. In English, I did a lot of stuff for Toyota, McDonald's, KFC and TV commercials for a fitness place and some radio voiceovers. O: Why did you grow up in Spain? What's the connnection? A. I was raised in Spain [lived there for eight years]. My dad was in the Army, so I'm an Army brat. Plus, my dad was from Puerto Rico. I'm also hoping to sing some tunes in Spanish. I'm very excited that I am fluent and that I can do that, because it's such a big thing right now. The Latino community has embraced me, so I hope I can work that into my music, too. Q: Were you a wrestling fan growing up? A: Yes, my dad and I used to watch it and go to some of the live events. My favorite was Andre The Giant. I also liked Ric Flair. I didn't have the seat I have now, but I remember seeing Andre The Giant from way up in the bleachers. The biggest joy for me in this job is seeing my dad's reaction. I asked him, 'Dad, did you ever imagine that I would some day be in the ring doing the announcing?' He gets a kick out of it every week. My mom and dad sit in front of the tube every Monday and Thursday. And my mom always says, 'I loved the outfit you were wearing.' She's always the outfit guru. Q: What was your debut like fe the WWF as the rIng announcer? A: It was Aug. 23, 1999, the day after SummerSlam [on RAW]. I was supposed to debut at SummerSlam, but I was in the Dominican Republic an a mixed vacation/singing trip. I went the day after to Iowa State University, and I didn't know until that day that I was actually going to be ring announcing that night. When I did the audition, I was doing more backstage interviewing. But they said that afternoon, 'By the way, we are going to have you be the ring announcer during RAW.' I had a mixed reaction. It was great that I was going to be on TV; but I'd be ring announcing - something I'd never done in my life. It was very scary. And the fans were like,'Oh my god, who is this? She's horrible.' I was thrown at the cash register without knowing what the buttons were for. But everybody gave me a chance to get to know it, and I feel so great about it now. I just have so much fun. Q: What's the strangest thing that has happened to you while ring announcing or sitting ringside during the matehes? A: You just never know when the matches are going to start right in front of you. You have to keep your eyes open. Sometimes The Dudley Boyz will chase me. You have to watch out, because the next thing you know you could be going through a table. The other day when I was sitting at ringside, all of a sudden Kane jumps out of the ring and comes straight toward me. He yelled, 'Get up!' and grabbed my chair and hit someone with it. And when Tazz was going at Jerry Lawler and Jim Ross, thank goodness I backed away, because next thing you know he was landing on my chair and I had just moved away. You have to stay on your toes at ringside. But I have the best seat in the house. Q: Do you want to get involved in WWF storylines or remain an announcer and backstage interviewer? A: I think it's cool the way it is now. They involve me sometimes, like Jeff Jarrett got me in the figure-four leglock the first time I joined the WWF. But I do like how the characters have their own identities and storylines, and yet I am myself there. It's a good thing that it's separated like that. It's dangerous to get involved; I like to keep healthy. Singing the anthem at every live event and ring announcing is enough for me. I'm having a fun time with it. Q: As a female employed by the WWF, how do you react to critics who complain about the adult-oriented storylines? A: When anything is doing really well, someone always wants to try to bring it down. We are doing really well, and some people want to nitpick at that. There are so many shows out there that are very racy. Everybody has a remote control; they can decide to turn it off if they don't like it. Coming at us and degrading us as a whole isn't the right way to approach it. Every parent has to decide what is right for his or her kid and to teach them that this isn't real. We always say, 'These are professionals, don't try this at home.' That's all we can do. The girls who participate in the WFF who show their cleavage do it because they want to. Nobody's making them do that. I dress more conservatively, but I choose to do that. And no one's ever told me, 'You have to show more.' Q: What are your overall impressions aftar your one year anniversary in the WWF? A: It's been an unbelievable experience. As a female ring announcer and interviewer backstage, it's great that not only have they accepted me, but the guys don't care that a woman is doing the interviewing. It could have been an issue with the fans, too, but they've accepted me. It's been a really tight knit group, with the wrestlers and the girls in the locker room. Everybody wants it to work, and it's such a great atmosphere. We look forward to going to work.