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Even Odds: Memory music mix tape
By Pat Ryan - 04/16/2007
Pat Ryan
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Back when I went to high school, I was lucky enough to be wrestling right smack in the middle of Butte High’s glory days The wrestling team was a pretty tight-knit group of guys. That’s what happens when people go through an ordeal like Jim Street’s conditioning regimen together. You end up bonding with the people who share your misery, along with the eventual triumph.
We all got into a routine through the season, with running/weight lifting circuits on Monday, Wednesday and Friday mornings, and the dreaded “buddy exercises” on Tuesdays and Thursdays. The team usually stayed at the same hotels when we were on the road, and when we hosted home meets and duals, we went through the same warm-up routine.
Another thing that became routine was the music that was blaring in the locker room before each competition. My senior year (1985-86) holds plenty of memories, but every time I hear Whitesnake and Motley Crue, I’m reminded of that particular year of wrestling.
And don’t get me wrong, the music wasn’t mine. I asked a few times to have my stuff played in the locker room, but Bruce Springsteen and Billy Joel didn’t seem to have the same adrenaline-pumping qualities.
If my own kids were playing songs like “Shout at the Devil” and “Slide it In,” I’d probably take away their tape deck.
OK, I know they don’t have tape decks any more. Heck, CDs are even on their way out. I still sometimes refer to them as “records,” which usually draws a blank stare from the younger crowd.
The point is that music — good or bad — is very much linked to memories — sports or otherwise.
There’s a song out called “1985” by a band named Puddle of Mudd. It’s probably already an oldie, but I just recently heard it, and the song’s references to Whitesnake and Motley Crue made me smile.
It also got me thinking of the best sports-related songs I could think of. We’re not talking “Jock Jams” here. I looked at the playlists for vol. 1-5, and I think I may have only recognized five or six songs.
The stuff kids are playing now while warming up escapes me, but then I am over 30, and not to be trusted.
This is a list of a few of my own personal favorite sports-related songs. Actually, some of them don’t mention sports at all. Many are just great songs to play while skiing or warming up for a workout. Whatever.
There are probably about a hundred that I skipped over en See MEMORY, Page B4 Memory ...
route to this list, but, in no particular order, here they are:
“Lunatic Fringe” by Red Rider — One of the songs from the sound track to Vision Quest, this always brings me back to when Louden Swain was training to beat the dreaded “Shute.”
“Surfing with the Alien” by Joe Satriani — It’s a great guitar instrumental that’s particularly good to listen to while snowboarding.
“Hit Somebody” by Warren Zevon — This hockey song was co-written by Zevon and Detroit sports writer Mitch Albom, and features Paul Schaffer’s band. If you listen closely, you can hear David Letterman hollering “Hit somebody!” in the back ground.
“We Will Rock You/We Are the Champions” by Queen — No one knew or cared what Freddy Mercury’s sexual orientation was back then. We thought this one was pretty cool in eighth grade.
“Bar Room Hero” by the Dropkick Murphys — Some fine Irish punk music good to cure what ails you, especially if you consider drinking and fighting a sport.
“Tusk” by Fleetwood Mac — Can’t you just see the marching band drum corps jamming on this one at halftime?
“New Way Home” by the Foo Fighters — This one is a headbanging, heart-pumping blast.
“Are You Gonna Be My Girl” by Jet — Basically a ripoff of Iggy Pop’s “Lust for Life,” but still a good listen.
“Center Field” by John Fogerty — Has become synonymous with baseball season, and so it makes us all happy.
“Cleveland Rocks” by the Presidents of the U.S.A. — High-energy song about the greatest sports town in the world.
“Beautiful Day” by U2 — The song is almost enough to make me think about going out for a run. Almost.
“Turning Japanese” by the Vapors — Here’s another one I associate with the ski slopes. I believe it gives you a quicker ride down the hill. Don’t ask me how, it just does.
“Be True to Your School” by the Beach Boys — Not only does this one feature the Butte High fight song, it encourages kids to be proud of where they’re from.
As if Butte kids need to be reminded.
— Pat Ryan is a sportswriter for The Montana Standard. His column appears Mondays. He may be reached at 496-5570 or by e-mail at pat.ryan@mtstandard.com.
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