The 1980 Seattle Mariners are a strange bunch. We don’t really know much about them, besides cool ones. Alvin Davis, Harold Reynolds, etc. Even Mark Langston seems like a bit of a stretch for people of our generation. We had no emotional connection to these players. They never won anything, they seldom did anything worth personal recognition (with a few exception’s we’ll discover), and they were so bad sometimes they cast a shadow of hatred over themselves that can never be undone. (IE my father’s eternal disdain for Dave Valle). But none the less they are a part of our beloved history as Mariner fans and I feel like we all owe it to ourselves to learn a little about our rich historical tradition.

So without further ado, I give you the greatest Mariners of the 1980’s.

10. Tom Paciorek, LF
Since I really don’t have an emotional connection with any of the players I’m about to list, I used cold heartless Wins Above Replacement (WAR) to judge them like robots in cages, fighting to the death. Tom Paciorek was drafted in the 5th round by the Dodgers in 1968 and made is MLB debut a few years later in 1970. After six some odd years playing off the bench for the Dodgers he went to Atlanta, was released after five games, and signed as a free agent with your own Seattle Mariners.

He made this list because of his 1981 season when he led the team with 3.9 WAR. To put that in perspective Ichiro has 3.9 WAR this season. In ’81 Paciorek or Wimpy as some fondly called him batted .326/.379/.509 slugging a legendary team second 14 home runs. I’m sure he’s a great guy.

9. Scott Bankhead, P
The M’s traded for Bankhead in 1986 for some players you’ve never heard of. He then had a couple okay seasons and then posted a 4.2 WAR in 1989. He threw 210 innings, about 80 more then he previously had thrown in his career. He finished the year 14-6 and was named co-MVP of the team along with Alvin Davis. Good for him.

8. Floyd Bannister, P
A local boy hailing from Burien, Wash., Bannister run as a mediocre pitcher for the M’s in the early 80’s. He made the All-Star team in 1982 when he accumulated 4.3 WAR which was good for 6th in the American League. He also lead the league in strike outs that year with 209.

7. Jim Beattie, P
Now besides the few stars we’ll get to in a minute, most of the players on this list are pitchers. It’s pretty interesting that the M’s had some decent talent on the mound throughout the 80’s because they’re position players were JUST AWFUL. Terrible. So bad.

Beattie joined the M’s in 1980 after two years being okay to bad for the Yankees. He struggled for a couple years posting 5.21 and 4.85 ERA’s in 1980 and 81, but then posted a 2.97 ERA in 1981. Oh wait, he only started nine games.  He really wasn’t that good. Only a 1.6 WAR. But still lead the pitchers for that team in WAR. Man the Mariners were bad.

Anyways, his break out season came in 1984 when he posted a 4.8 WAR just narrowly beating out up and comer Mark Langston who had a 4.4. Being a good pitcher must have really rubbed him the wrong way because he the next year he sucked and the year after that he sucked some more and then he retired. Must have been depressed that in the second year of his career he won a World Series, then went off to rot on one of the worst franchises the baseball world had ever seen.

6. Matt Young, P
Young, best known for pitching a no-hitter and losing while with the Red Sox, was drafted by the M’s and spent his first three seasons with the Mariners. His break out year was also his Rookie year as he cracked the top ten in ERA for the American League. It also lead to an All Star appearance and a team leading 4.8 WAR.

5. Mike Moore, P
I’m sick of writing about pitchers. Mike Moore was one of the M’s many first pick over all’s, his coming in 1981. He made his debut just a year later, but it wasn’t until 1985 when he posted a 5.6 WAR establishing himself above the rest of the M’s pitching staff. Like well beyond the rest. That was a really bad staff, the closest coming to Moore was Ed Nunez who was only worth 1.6 WAR.

Moore would have a great ’86 season as well leading the league in games started, batters faced, and third in HBP. Is that good?

4. Phil Bradley, LF
Bradley led the position players on the Mariners in WAR from 1985-87, which is not really that impressive when you think about his colleagues. But none the less 1985 was a big year for Bradley hitting .300 with a career high 26 home runs, a mark that he would not even come close to the rest of his career.

3. Harold Reynolds, 2B
For as much as we adore Harold for his smooth looks and ways with the ladies, he really only had one or two good seasons for the M’s. He of course had his league leading 60 stolen base season in ’87, but he wasn’t much of a threat at the plate. He hit for an okay average, didn’t walk a lot, and hit for zero power. He did win three straight Gold Gloves for the M’s from 1988-1990. I feel like I’m really down on my number three on the list, but looking at these stats, I guess it’s like the current Mariner squad. The standard of good is lowered when you totally suck.

Here’s a sweet video to break up the monotony of this depressing list.

2. Alvin Davis, 1B
Finally, Mr. Mariner! I grew up knowing who Alvin Davis was just because of his nickname and my life size growth chart I had to check my height. Davis was if nothing consistent. The big year came his first when he won Rookie of the Year honors with .284/.391/.497 batting line and 27 dingers. He would drop down to 18 homers the next two years but then bounce back with 29 in ’87. He was always good for a decent average, a lot of walks, and a good amount of HR’s.  I’m glad to say he’s one of the players on this list who was an actual contributor to the M’s for a long period of time.

1. Mark Langston
Now we get to the man who brought us Randy Johnson. Mark Langston was the M’s first true #1 ace. He led the league in strike outs in ’84, ’86, and ’87, as well as a slew of Gold Gloves if that matters. He had four 4+ WAR seasons with the M’s and represented us in the All-Star game twice. Plus he brought us back Randy Johnson in his trade to Montreal making the 80’s worth while for M’s fans in the 90’s.

I really encourage everyone to look for video on these players because there are tons of You Tube slide show tribute songs written but people that think they’re really cool, but I’d be very interested to see some actual video. Everyone knows the Mariners sucked in the 80’s, but they were still Mariners and it’s important to know you’re baseball heritage, ya know?

There are lots of things that I like from the Eighties. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles, Transformers, G.I. Joe and a number of great cartoons that still managed to influence me in my formative years wouldn’t have happened if it wasn’t for the 1980s. It was the peak time for video game arcades, something I wish I could have been around for more of. And let’s not forget the massive list of movies that made the decade so unique. But these lists aren’t necessarily about nostalgia. No, this is me, someone born in 1988, on the outside, looking back in.

Top 10 Albums of the 1980s

Honestly, I’ve never been that big on 1980s music. In fact, I’ve listened to more new albums since 2009 than total albums from that entire decade. That is not to say I think Eighties music is bad, it’s just that I prefer the music that evolved from what was going on back then to that actual music. However, these next ten albums are totally tubular.

10. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)
Look, it had to be on the list. I tried to fight it, but no, you cannot deny Thriller. It is the Eighties, as well as one of the most important albums in pop music history. Plus, who wouldn’t prefer having an Eighties MJ around today, instead of Beaver Fever? Beaber? Bieber?

9. Dire Straits – Brothers in Arms (1985)
“Walk of Life” is pretty much the reason why I ever listened to this album. But I’m also a huge fan of “So Far Away,” “Money for Nothing” and, well, the rest of the record. I don’t know why, but when I think of this album, I just think “yeah, that’s boring.” And then I’ll listen to it again and remember it kicks ass. The reason why is so far away from me.

8. Talking Heads – Remain in Light (1980)
This is pretty much my toss-up spot. The Replacement’s Let It Be, Beastie Boy’s Paul’s Boutique and The Smith’s The Queen is Dead and several other albums were all in contention. Ultimately, I give it to Remain in Light because it’s so distinct. I can appreciate that. Also, “Once in a Lifetime.”

7. AC/DC – Back in Black (1980)
Without this album, what would the Iron Man trailers be like? A lot more Black Sabbath, that’s what. Fortunately, we don’t have to live in that world, because AC/DC rocked are asses away back in 1980. I’m not a fan of the schoolboy uniform shtick, however. Gross.

6. The Cure – Disintegration (1989)
What are they the cure for? Boredom? A world full of bad music? The mainstream? Does anyone know? Anyway, after years of not really giving a crap that everyone told me I should listen to The Cure, I finally hit up Disintegration and found myself enjoying it thoroughly. Who knew?

5. De La Soul – 3 Feet High and Rising (1989)
De La Soul delivered what is basically my favorite hip hop album in 1989. What does that say about my hip hop credibility? Not much good. But I just love that in the era of gangster rap, these three guys put together a fun, positive album that pretty much anyone could enjoy. Kevin, if you read this, “Eye Know” is that song that samples Steely Dan’s “Peg.”

4. New Order – Power, Corruption & Lies (1983)
I few weeks back Colin played some tracks off Power, Corruption & Lies much to my chagrin. Except “Age of Consent” is amazing. Who knew you could do a song driven by crazy drums and bass? Now I have to listen to it all the time. And there are some other pretty fucking outstanding songs on this bad boy, such as “The Village” and dance hit (?) “Blue Monday.” Whoosh!

3. Big Country – The Crossing (1983)
OK, we all know “In a Big Country” is basically the best song in the history of music. So you can imagine how happy I was when I put this record on and was treated to the longer cut of the song leading off the LP. The rest of the songs can’t quite live up to it, but don’t begrudge them that. They’re pretty good. Well, some are pretty forgettable. But it’s good. There’s a reason these guys were far from a one-hit-wonder in Europe.

2. U2 – Joshua Tree (1987)
I’m not certain about this, but Joshua Tree might be my favorite U2 album. That is perhaps because the first four tracks make one of the best starts to any album I’ve ever heard. But don’t let me be misunderstood, every song on this album is a triumph. If you asked me a few weeks ago if there was any Eighties albums worth getting, this would be the first one I’d bring up. Well, except for the next album on this list.

1. The Pixies – Doolittle (1989)
It took me a while to get Doolittle. I had listened to it a few times, but what really helped me along the way was when Colin, John and I played through the whole album in Rock Band. Since then, it has become one of the few albums I always keep on my iPhone, indeed, one of my go-to records. From Kim Deal’s intro to “Debaser” all the way through “Gouge Away,” Doolittle is an experience that went on to influence pretty much all the music I like.

Top 10 Video Games of the 1980s

The Eighties were the heyday of the arcade game. Starting in the late 1970s, we had years of awesome titles until Nintendo came along and ruined it for everyone by putting out the Nintendo Entertainment System. Except the NES also birthed some of the most beloved games of all time. Games like Mega Man, The Legend of Zelda and Metroid were omitted because I haven’t played nearly enough of them. I’m sorry! I wasn’t born yet!

10. Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles (1989)
I’m iffy on this pick, since TMNT just set up the formula for what would be the greatest beat-em-up of all time, Teenage Mutant Ninja Turtles IV: Turtles in Time. But a lot of what makes that game great is present in the original, plus this gave me a way to get the Turtles on one of my lists. I love those guys.

9. Frogger (1981)
I love how simple games in the Eighties were. You play as a frog, and you’ve got to get across that road. I guess it probably should have been a chicken, but then you wouldn’t get the tricky cross the pond, eat the fly, get in the cave part of the game. That’s where all the real action is.

8. Joust (1982)
So you’re this jouster guy. And you ride an ostrich. And you have to knock the other ostrich-riding jousters into the lava below. Yeah, that all makes a lot of sense. Joust was one of my dad’s favorite arcade games, so I guess it’s genetic.

7. BurgerTime (1982)
This makes you hungry, Colin? You want a giant burger that a chef’s been running over? BurgerTime is kind of like a lesser Lode Runner, except it’s awesome. What does level four look like? I’d love to know.

6. Galaga (1981)
I thought I could throw Space Invaders on this list, but apparently that classic came out in the Seventies. So instead I give you Galaga, which is basically Space Invaders but better in every way. I am serious.

5. Tetris (1985)
Funny story about Tetris: the Russian guy who invented it? He basically gets no money for it thanks to Russia being kind of messed up and also Nintendo screwing him. Poor fella. Oh, also, they gave you this for free if you bought a GameBoy. And I had to play the Russian folk son that you probably associate with this game is my junior high guitar class recital. Yup.

4. Contra (1987)
If it wasn’t for Contra we wouldn’t have some of the most important concepts in gaming. The Konami code, the spread gun, and some other third thing. Yeah, it’s a hard. Suck it up. Like a straw. Or a vacuum. Or the 2010 Seattle Mariners.

3. Donkey Kong (1981)
We’ve got a kill screen coming up! Originally titled Monkey Kong, the game got accidentally renamed and thus one of gaming’s most legendary characters was born. I guess the Donkey Kong we know today is actually supposed to be Donkey Kong, Jr., which is probably why he just goes by DK. Doesn’t wanna live in his dad’s shadow.

2. Pac-Man (1980)
Paku-Man was translated into Puck-Man, but Namco figured putting out arcade units labeled “Puck-Man” would make it too easy for vandals to rename the game “Fuck-Man.” Which would have been awesome, let’s all face it. The Pac-Man table is one of my favorite arcade cabinet designs, very classy. Paku-paku, bitches.

1. Super Mario Bros. (1985)
Hey, wow, sweet, what a big surprise. Yeah, you could argue the formula was perfected by Super Mario Bros. 3, but that didnt’ even come out in the U.S. until 1990. I, for one, did not import it from Japan when I a baby. And you know what, Super Mario Bros. is video games. Everyone loves it. It just doesn’t get more classic than this. It’s simple and yet deep, challenging and rewarding. It’s right up there with Pong in contention for the most important video game ever made.

Top 10 Movies of the 1980s

Movies were definitely to hardest to narrow down to just ten. Without looking at a list or anything, I was able to come up with around 30 films that I thought were worth being on a top 10 list. I had to make some deep, painful cuts, but here is my final top ten of the Eighties.

10. Robocop (1987)
Robocop‘s got it all. Action, one-liners, hilariously over-the-top villains, real social themes, and an interesting take on the dystopian future. It’s so good I refuse to watch the sequels, since I don’t want to know what they do to the franchise.

9. Airplane! (1980)
I know this should be my number one, just pretend this is a typo. It’s rare to find a movie so loaded down with puns. There’s basically this and other Eighties comedy juggernaut The Naked Gun. And some other movies too. I don’t really know where I’m going with this. Funny movie!

8. Major League (1989)
The hardest question Flick Chart never asked me: Bull Durham or Major League? It’s a close call, that’s for sure. And if the umps had instant replay, maybe we could be more certain. But instead I’m gonna have to call what I saw, and instinct says Major League is more fun. Tough call, though.

7. Back to the Future (1985)
I think when most people think about Eighties movies, they think of Back to the Future. It’s kind of a miracle a movie like this works, since the plot is surprisingly complex, I mean, even the title is confusing if you haven’t seen the movie. Too bad the sequels couldn’t quite live up to the original. I’m not one of those fanatics that watches this all the time, but I always enjoy it when I can catch it.

6. Raging Bull (1980)
There are few movies better than Raging Bull. But this is not the list of the best movies of the 1980s. These are my favorites. And as much as I was blown away by Raging Bull, I haven’t even gone back and watched it a second time. A Hell of a film, though.

5. Die Hard (1988)
My top five are all films I’ve seen like a million times. Die Hard is definitely on my short list for greatest action movie of all time. John McClane is simply one of the best protagonists in action movies, and Hans Gruber is a terrific antagonist. It’s kind of becoming a Christmas tradition in my family, too.

4. Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982)
It’s even quotable. “You’ve managed to kill everyone else, but like a poor marksman, you keep missing the target.” “From Hell’s heart I stab at thee. For hate’s sake, I spit my last breath at thee.” “The needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few, or the one.” Star Trek: The Motion Picture is kind of a joke. Khan is undeniable.

3. Indiana Jones and the Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
Do heroes get any cooler than Indiana Jones? I guess you could argue for McClane, or Han Solo, but come on. A teacher who spends his free time traveling the world collecting presumably long-lost magical artifacts? Plus, he uses a whip. Anyone else would make that seem really weak. Not Indy.

2. Ghostbusters (1984)
Another comedy movie with a oddly complex plot. I’m not even sure I get the whole thing, like, why does Gozer need to transform? Just to fuck with them? Ah well, this is one of the funniest movies ever made, and I wish I was watching in right now.

1. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
Can you dig it? Star Wars is certainly the most important film franchise in my life; I’ve enjoyed the whole series since I was but a boy. Empire Strikes Back gave us Yoda, Lando, Hoth, a real lightsaber fight, a shocking revelation, a long-awaited romance and almost killed C-3PO. How you gonna beat that?

Looks like were going to have a busy couple of weeks. In addition to “80s Week”, I imagine we’ll have some movie reviews next week, maybe a review of the latest installment of Ken Burn’s Baseball and I will of course begin my “Shocktober” feature, where I’ll review 31 movies in 31 days. Though until than let’s hop in our Deloreans and take a blast to the past.

Top 10 Albums of the 1980s

10. The Traveling Wilbury’s – The Traveling Wilbury’s Vol. 1 (1988)
Some of rock’s finest gathered together to jam? It’s just as much fun as it sounds as; Harrison, Orbison, Petty, Dylan and Lynne let loose on this late 80s hoedown. I think you’ll find a lot of these choices have already been discussed here in some form, so let’s keep movin’ down to the end of the line.

9. John Fogerty – Centerfield (1984)
Talented CCR frontman John Fogerty’s comeback album is a savory return to the Bayou. “The Old Man Down the Road” could’ve easily been a CCR hit and the same could be said for most of this album’s bluesy tracks. The title track could arguably be the greatest baseball rock song ever and that enough is worth standing up to cheer.

8. U2 – Joshua Tree (1987)
The trailer for The Kingdom got me into this album, isn’t that weird? “Bullet in a Blue Sky” I remember, from that moment on I was immersed.

7. Tom Petty – Full Moon Fever (1989)
It’s only got like a million hits.

6. Michael Jackson – Thriller (1982)
Can’t resist… Dancing, ugh, so catchy!

5. Bruce Springsteen – Born in the U.S.A. (1984)
I could’ve of been cool and picked The River but when it comes down to it this album “just is America.” The official soundtrack to the working man, Born in the U.S.A. is an important work worth saluting.

4. Kraftwerk – Computer World (1981)
Clean cut German guys making bleeps and bloops? Count me in! I’ve never considered myself a big electronic fan but this album is infectious. It’s so basic in melody, rhythm and lyrics and yet it I find myself fully absorbed. Sigh, I wish I had a better relationship with my calculator.

3. Violent Femmes – Violent Femmes (1982)
The pinnacle of underground, acoustic, folk, punk and so on. Often I find some of the most memorable albums to be the the hardest to define, so who knows what genre this is. All I know is I love the simplicity of this album and these songs are pitch perfect anthems for your your regular angsty outcast

2. George Harrison – Cloud Nine (1987)
Sometimes album just resonate with you for reasons that are hard to explain. I’m aware there may be hundreds of albums more important than what, like George Harrison’s 11th album? But I bought this not long after he died and with it’s optimistic pop melodies it’s quickly become one of, if not my favorite post-Beatles solo album.

1. Pixies – Doolittle (1989)
“Quiet, loud, quiet, loud” such a simple approach and yet the Pixies are arguably one of most influential artists of alternative music. Raw, clever, catchy, funny, they’re always entertaining whether they’re pounding out a feisty rocker or just dicking around the studio. Frank Black is one of those guys that never gives you anything less than 100%. Doolittle is an alternative masterpiece.

Top 10 Music Videos of the 1980s

10. “She Was Hot” – The Rolling Stones
It’s hardly cutting edge or even remotely notable but it’s pure 80s cheese at it’s best. I like this one part where this buff dude’s bicep explodes.

9. “Coming Up” – Paul McCartney
Paul McCartney basically miming the single off of his 1980 album McCartney II but who is his backing band? Why it’s who else but Paul McCartney. Actually the illusion is fairly convincing in the wide shots. My favorite McCartney clone is probably “Heavy Metal McCartney” but “Weird, Mustachioed, Keyboard Playing” McCartney is a close second.

8. “When We Was Fab” – George Harrison
“The Quiet Beatle” reminisces about the days of Beatlemania while odd sight gags happen around him. There’s this one part where he has four arms, oh yeah and Ringo is there too!

7. “Down Under” – Men at Work
Don’t you hate videos that take themselves far too seriously? Where you’re not even sure what the video has to do with the song? Whatever the matter, I love watching these wacky boys from down under in this verbatim collection of silly set pieces.

6. “Once in a Lifetime” – Talking Heads
I as well have a fondness for David Byrne’s spastic movements.

5. “Take On Me” – A-ha
The pictures… Gasp, they’re coming alive!

4. “It’s Tricky” – Run DMC
Who you do call when Penn & Teller steal your money a la three card monte? That’s right, Run DMC and this video really gets me moving. The editing flows perfectly with song’s rhythm and it’s a real treat seeing Run DMC teaching Penn & Teller to be cool

3. “Fat” – Weird Al Yankovic
I wouldn’t be able to live with myself if I didn’t include at least one Weird Al video. This one is just one of my all-time favorites, ha, ha fat people. “Yo, ding dong, ding dong yo.” pure brilliance.

2. “Call Me Al” – Paul Simon
I first saw this video at a very young age in the 90s and loved it even before I knew who Paul Simon or Chevy Chase was. It’s so simple, so silly, and yet so perfect.

1. “Thriller” – Michael Jackson
To quote my friend Colin “Well duh”

Top 10 Video Games of the 1980s

10. Altered Beast (1988)
If it wasn’t for this we may have never had “Welcome to your Doom!” as Death’s catch phrase in our videos. It can be a tricky game but if you can “bend the rules” if you know what I mean, you’ll have a lot of fun. Some of the monster transformations in this game are just awesome and I always enjoy watching the hero get ridiculously buff. The graphics are great for the time and it’s overflowing with 80s charm.

9. Pac-Man (1980)
What an uninspired choice right? What can I say? I’m a sucker for the classics. Though I never truly got to experience “Pac Man Fever” I like many have enjoyed playing it in various pizzerias over the years.

8. Frogger (1981)
The best game ever made about roadkill.

7. Joust (1982)
Such fond memories of Sean and I playing this back in the day. Of course that was on an “Atari Best of…” type cartridge but it was special nonetheless.

6. Contra (1987)
It’s hard as hell but damn, talk about action packed! As frustrated as you might get you wont be able to put it down.

5. Donkey Kong (1981)
I used to practice the Game Boy port for hours with dreams of doing at least okay in the arcade. Sadly I always cracked under the pressure but I still love the game.

4. Q*Bert (1982)
What’s going on here? Some weird creature, hopping around an isometric platform from a third-person perspective? Actually, I think the fact that this game is is different is why I like it so much, plus he swears, he’s badass.

3. Golden Axe (1989)
Definitely one of the best side-scrollers of it’s time. Brimming with skeletons, dragons, and bosses that are always about a hundred feet taller than you, Golden Axe is as much fun as ever. Nothing beats playing as an angry dwarf fighting the evil “Death Adder”!

2. Super Mario Bros. 3 (1988)
It’s like the first one but better, awesome?

1. Tetris (1984)
So addictive… I could play for about twenty years straight.

Top 10 Movies of the 1980s

10. Star Wars: The Empire Strikes Back (1980)
One of, if not the greatest sequel of all time. It’s darker, edgier and is quoted way too often by the DaMorgue crew in our productions and what not. What? “That’s impossible!” You say? Oh no, it’s made it’s impact and it’s here to stay.

9. Die Hard (1988)
The pinnacle of 80s action movies, Die Hard has it all and more. John McClane has to be one of the funniest action heroes in cinema history and Alan Rickman is equally entertaining as his German nemesis. I love the explosions, the kills and it never fails to fill me with holiday cheer.

8. Field of Dreams (1989)
My favorite baseball movie despite the few scenes of anyone actually playing baseball. Field of Dreams is more about the myth of baseball and it’a larger than life players and did somebody say heartwarming? It’s an enchanting fantasy film with some great performances from Kevin Costner, James Earl Jones and Ray Liotta, always brings a little tear to the eye too.

7. Pee Wee’s Big Adventure (1985)
So, so many jokes! If it isn’t some zany exchange of dialogue it’s a bizarre set piece in Pee Wee’s Big Adventure an immensely detailed movie that’s completely ridiculous. The characters are all priceless but it’s the giddy Pee-Wee himself that steals the show. If only TIm Burton could get back to making goofy films like this.

6. Big (1986)
I adore Gary Ross’ scripts that make such preposterous ideas seem believable. Something about Big almost makes it seem as if it could of been made in the golden age of Hollywood. Or maybe that’s because of it’s likable star in Tom Hanks: the Jimmy Stewart of our time. It’s heartwarming and endlessly clever and how can you not like that giant keyboard scene?

5. An American Werewolf in London (1981)
Few filmmakers have been as successful as John Landis with the blending of horror and comedy but here Landis does it seamlessly. It goes from laughs, to scares, laughs, to scares, without ever missing a beat. Rick Baker’s transformation sequence is one of the most memorable in horror movie history and it’s got three different versions of the song “Blue Moon”, I love that song?

4. This is Spinal Tap (1984)
One of the most quotable films of all time and definitely the best movie ever made about rock and roll. It’s a subtle film as I’ve discovered when watched in a group, but I never tire of it’s oddball docudrama approach and eccentric characters. The fact that the music is good only makes this film more awesome. It came out 26 years and yet it still lives on in the rock community. Turn it up all the way to eleven!

3. Raiders of the Lost Ark (1981)
I can’t think of any other film that could better sum up “Adventure”. From the exotic set pieces to the traditional stunt work Raiders is timeless. Harrison Ford propels himself to true leading man status with arguably his most entertaining performance and leads us on an adventure all around the world and back again.

2. E.T. (1982)
Moving, magical, a true classic in every right. from 1975… Maybe even to the late 90s, Steven Spielberg has created some of the most memorable films of all time. This one is a whimsical family film that excels in every department. The score, the effects, and all the little moments make this the perfect film. It’s almost too much of a tearjerker in my eyes, which gave just enough room for number one pick to squeak by.

1. The Thing (1982)
Originally a failure due mostly to the success of my number two pick (Both released in June 1982). The Thing has since become a cult classic and is now regarded as one of the best horror/sci-fi movies of the 80s. It’s always resonated with me the atmosphere that it creates. Such a feeling of isolation, complimented my Ennio Morricone’s robotic score and a strong ensemble cast. Rob Bottin’s bile producing makeup effects still hold up and the film is yet to feel dated. I watch it every year near wintertime, one of my favorites.

As I get ready to leave San Francisco for the summer I figured I’d take a look at the rich history of the city’s beloved ball club, The San Francisco Giants. Now I’m no expert on the team or anything, but in my brief time as a Giants fan I think I already have a pretty good feel for the Giants that have truly had an impact on Giants fans. I decided to just do players from the San Francisco years, since you’d probably need at least a top 20 to include all the great players from the Giants’ years in New York.

10. Matt Williams

The number ten spot could’ve gone any which way but I decided to go with “Matt the Bat”. In addition to winning 3 gold gloves and making 4 all-star teams, Williams hit over 20 HR in nearly all of his years with the Giants. In fact, he was on pace to 60 HR in 1994 before the players’ strike shortened the season. Giants fans were pissed when Brian Sabean’s first move after becoming GM was trading Williams to the Indians, but luckily one of the players received in that was trade was Jeff Kent.

9. Tim Lincecum

Yeah it’s still very early in his career, and who knows how he’ll turn out with that crazy delivery combined with his tiny stature. But few players in recent years have caused as much of a stir and are as flat-out fun to watch as “Big Time Timmy Jim”. It looks he’ll be staying in San Francisco for at least a few more years, but hopefully someday the M’s will be able to experience the awesomeness of their native son, Tim Lincecum. So far he’s won 2 Cy Youngs, which is already more than any other player has won in a Giants uniform, here’s to hoping he racks up a few more.

8. Gaylord Perry

Perhaps baseball’s only Hall of Fame “cheater”, Gaylord Perry was famous for doctoring baseballs, and was probably the only modern pitcher that managed to turn it in to an art form. Perry managed to form a volatile 1-2 punch with Juan Marichal that rivaled the Dodgers’ famous Kofax/Drysdale combination. As a member of the 300 win and 3000 strikeouts clubs, Perry racked up some of the most impressive pitching statistics in history. The only reason he’s not higher on this list is the fact that he only played about 5 notable seasons with the Giants.

7. Jeff Kent

Though Jeff Kent’s 6 seasons may make his time in San Francisco seem a little brief as well, he was nonetheless an integral part of the 1997, 2000, and 2002 playoff runs. Kent managed to win the NL MVP in 2000, and is currently the all-time leader in home runs for second-basemen. Kent recieved quite a bit of hate from fans while spending his last few years with the Dodgers. But with his return to AT&T Park last Summer it seems all is forgiven, and there’s probably a good chance that he could be the next Giant inducted into the Hall of Fame.

6. Orlando Cepeda

I don’t really know a whole lot about Orlando Cepeda, but he is one of the few SF Giants Hall of Famers, and there is a freakin’ statue of him outside of AT&T Park. Cepeda won the 1958 Rookie of the Year and continued to make the all-star team each year from 1959-1964 while playing for the Giants. Just one of the many great Giants to play first base for the team, and an integral part of those great ’60s Giants teams.

5. Barry Bonds

Easily the most controversial player in Giants history, and probably one of the most maligned players of all-time. Barry Bonds was indeed a dick, a ‘roider, and therefore not as naturally gifted as his superhuman statistics would indicate, but he was still undeniably one of the greatest players of his era. Giants fans still have an unabashed love for Bonds, which I’m starting to understand with having Milton Bradley playing for the M’s this year. Sometimes it’s just fun to root for someone who only cares about winning, and couldn’t give a shit about anything else.

4. Will Clark

Will Clark is just awesome. “Will The Thrill” was quite simply the face of the organization from the his rookie season in 1986 through the 1989 World Series run up until he was traded in 1993. And it’s no wonder that “The Thrill” is still one of the most beloved players in franchise history, as he embodied the hustle, spirit, and grit that one hopes for in every baseball player. Sure his career statistics weren’t exactly Hall of Fame caliber, but his time with the Giants was truly golden.

3. Juan Marichal

The ’60s were an era of great pitching, with Kofax and Gibson being at the forefront. However it was the Giants’s own Juan Marichal that actually garned a greater number of wins during the decade than those two legends. This high-kicking Dominican was famous for his pinpoint accuracy that often resulting in throwing close to batters heads. Marichal is also well known for one of the most heated moments of the Dodgers-Giants rivalry, when he got into a fight with Dodger catcher Johnny Roseboro and ended up beating him with his bat.

2. Willie McCovey

For some reason I tend to think of Willie McCovey as the Giants’ equivalent of Edgar Martinez. He might not have the same recognition as a certain centerfielder that he played alongside, but Giants fans love him so much that they named a piece of geography after him. McCovey won Rookie of the year in 1959 as well as the 1969 NL MVP and stands alongside Mays, Bonds, and Mel Ott as the only career Giants players belonging to the 500 home run club, which is more players than in any other organization.

1. Willie Mays

This shouldn’t come as any surprise at all as the numbers speak for themselves. With 660 career home runs, 3283 hits, 338 stolen bases, and a lifetime batting average of .302, Willie Mays might very well have been the greatest all-around player to ever play the game. He won 12 gold gloves, 2 NL MVPs, was a 24-time all-star, and is responsible for the most famous “Catch” in the history of baseball. There simply will never be anyone quite like Willie “The Say Hey Kid” Mays.

Honorable Mentions:

J.T. Snow

Chili Davis

Kevin Mitchell

I’m guessing I’m going to be spending a lot more time this summer watching the Giants than the M’s so…

Go Giants!

I remember back in October when Colin did a post of his musical “Guilty Pleasures”. Artists we like but with arguable artistic credibility. I was inspired to post my picks but it took me awhile to figure out who’d make the cut. Then I forgot, until now so I’ve dusted it off and posted it here for your pleasure. Artists I like but don’t like to admit to.

10. Bachman-Turner Overdrive
: Sure it was acceptable for drunk frat guys in the 70s and now drunk middle aged men but I don’t think you’d find a lot of folks these days that would consider it “cool” to like Bachman-Turner Overdrive. With a catalogue primarily of formulaic blues/rock tunes like; “Roll On Down the Highway”, “Let it Ride”, or the blue collar anthem “Takin’ Care of Business” they were hardly cutting edge. Even Randy Bachman thought “You Ain’t Seen Nothing Yet” was an embarrassing song but I like em. It’s good ol’ hard drinking party rock.

9. Keane
: What makes wimpy balladeers Keane uncool? Is it their innocent image? Tom Chaplin’s vocals? The fact they play “Piano Rock”? Yeah, those all seem about right. Anyhow I still love their lush melodies and their debut album was one of my favorites of 2004.

8. Ricky Nelson
: A 50s teen dream and for awhile 70s folk singer, Ricky Nelson has had great influence on musicians like John Fogerty but he never could escape his squeaky clean image. Nonetheless I’m a fan of his non offensive 50s pop hits such as “Poor Little Fool”, “Hello Mary Lou” and “Travelin’ Man” a song for whatever reason I know all the words to. Plus if it wasn’t for him we wouldn’t have pop duo Nelson.

7. Rod Stewart
: I’m just talking about 70s Rod Stewart but I guess that’s still pretty embarrassing. A popular sex symbol about 100 years ago, I prefer Rod for his raspy vocals as the frontman of Faces. Not to mention Rod’s critically acclaimed solo album Every Picture Tells Story, you gotta love “Maggie May.”

6. Herman’s Hermits
: More or less another 60s British import trying to cash in on the British Invasion. Herman’s Hermit’s laid the roots for bubble-gum with their clean cut sound and image and that’s nothing to really be proud of. Though I’m surprised how many songs they have that I’m all about; “I’m Into Something Good”, “Mrs Brown You’ve Got a Lovely Daughter”, “Listen People”, “Can’t You Hear My Heartbeat”, “There’s a Kind of Hush” not to mention the silly but infectious “I’m Henry VIII, I Am”. For all those entertaining tunes I’ll always be behind Peter Noone and company.

5. Tom Jones
Swinging 60s/70s pop crooner can still pack em in, well middle aged women that is. It was so hard to find a picture of him without his shirt off so I just gave up. I don’t think I’m the target audience but if anyone ever asked me to go to a Tom Jones concert, I’d probably go.

4. The Association
An ensemble pop group that although talented vocalists had some pretty corny hits in the sixties. I think most know them best for their cheery #1 hit “Windy” which is a perfect example of their cheesy sound. “Cherish” is another lovey dubby tune for whatever reason I enjoy and “Along Comes Mary” always gets my head bobbing.

3. The Four Seasons
In the early 60s doo-wop/blue-eyed soul was as hot as ever and no one could belt em out quite like The Four Seasons. With ear splitting falsetto it’s not hard to see why these guys have become the epitome of cheesy doo-wop music. Though I can’t deny my fondness for such hits as; “Sherry”, “Walk Like a Man” and “Big Girls Don’t Cry”. Hey they even have a musical Jersey Boys about them, what’s cooler than a musical?

2. The Bay City Rollers
Little separates a bubble-gum pop group like this from The Osmonds but these guys can be catchy. Even I shudder looking at those tartan-trimmed suspenders but they did have some nice arrangements of some notable pop songs and I’ll always be a fan of Scottish anthem “Saturday Night.”

1. Bee Gees
Liking Disco is basically the most uncool genre of music to be a fan. Making it a little more than embarrassing to be a fan of the group that was at the forefront of the movement. I don’t consider myself a disco fan but I’ve always really liked the Bee Gees. A Bee Gees cd was the second cd I ever bought, a purchase I do not regret…. Though I don’t often bring it up either.