In my most recent “The ’90’s On My Mind” column, I mentioned the Gus Macker 3-on-3 Basketball tournament. Don’t remember the Macker? Well, get a crash course here: ummm…HERE!

Sioux City/SSC hasn’t hosted a Gus Macker 3-on-3 b-ball tournament since like 1998 (Can someone check the facts for me?). We need one back for 2010! Check the info here: Host a Tournament.

So, let’s get the word out that we want some 3-on-3 hoops action next summer! Alert your city councilman, mailman, accountant, whoever you need to make it happen, or anyone that will listen. So…..who’s with me and my rallying cry?!?!?

DeRoin.

Sunday marks the official begin to summer. But we all know summer actually kicks off the first day we could wear shorts to school or we heard the ice cream man’s truck around the corner. So, in honor of summer, I bring you a quintessential day of 90’s summer activities! All set to the ultimate soundtrack – the best summer song ever.

Wake up! There’s nothing on TV but Regis & Kathie Lee, game shows like The Price Is Right and Supermarket Sweep, or old episodes of Perfect Strangers and The Cosby Show in syndication. So jump on your brand new Dyno bike…with pegs of course… and meet the gang at the vacant lot for a game of wiffle ball. Ghost runner on second!

After the inevitable “you can’t bunt in wiffle ball” argument, it’s time to bike home for a quick lunch. No time to cook up a grilled ham-n-cheese sandwich with a handful of Pringles…just snatch some Lunchables (with a mysteriously citrusy Capri Sun) and head back out with your blue basketball shorts and neon orange tank top on. And who forget forget the black hi-top Reebok pumps? Or maybe some Air Pennys? [[Don't sweat it- a full "The '90's On My Mind" Basketball shoe entry is coming soon.]]

Anyways, It’s gonna be a hot afternoon. Wanna go golfing and ask the clubhouse lady if we can use the phone to call for a ride home after nine holes? Nah. How about tackle football in the backyard with the shed and porch both in play? Nah. Well, we don’t have a pool and can’t go to the public pool (there’s not enough chlorine in the world to off-set the amount of little kids who pee in the pool)…so it’s time for a water fight! Grab your water balloons and Super Soakers and it’s on!! Next, you gotta find someone with a slope or hill in their yard and thrown down, you guessed it– a Slip n Slide.

After a quick game of HORSE (we need some extra practice for the Gus Macker tourney next week anyway) in the driveway, let’s lower the hoop to 7′ and have a dunk contest!

Later when dad gets home from work, throw some hot dogs on the grill and chow down quick on some potato salad before the family loads up the Ford Taurus and hauls off to soccer practice. Don’t worry, orange slices and Hi-C Ecto Coolers for all after practice!

The sun’s finally setting, but the fun doesn’t stop til 11 pm (curfew, ya know). Cuz we gotta run home, thrown on a black sweatshirt, and meet at base for hide ‘n’ go seek. In the neighbor’s tree…under the car in the driveway…of anywhere in the neighborhood not off limits, what’s your favorite hiding spot?

With the last “olly olly, oxen free“, we all call it a day…the best day of summer ever!!! Let’s do it again tomorrow!

PeAcE,
Dice DeRoin.

P.S.-
I couldn’t even fit everything I wanted in the story, but can’t deprive you of these great videos. So does anyone remember their:
Skip It? or Nerf collection? …Well, hit me up @ chrisderoin@gmail.com with your favorite summertime memories from the best decade ever- the 1990’s.

Hey Siouxland gumshoes, let’s talk geography on this rainy day. So, all you amateur detectives, figure this out…

We all know Sgt. Bluff, right? They’ve got an airport and a Pizza Ranch. But their school is called SB-L, with the L standing for Luton. I’ve never been there nor have I heard anything about this place. Is this mysterious community a real city? Town? Village? Has anyone ever visited Luton? What tourist attractions does it boast? How many people live there? Are they all related?

Learning about Luton, Iowa hasn’t ever been a burning desire of mine, but I was reminded of my lack of knowledge about immediate Siouxland geography when looking at a weather map this morning. A weather map that raised even more questions about obscure/remote towns…

Has anyone ever heard of these places?
Mount Lucia, Iowa- appears to be past Riverside next to North Sioux??
Millis Beach, Nebraska- past the Atokad*/Tompkins part of SSC on the way to Jackson??
Glen Elen, Iowa- somewhere between Sgt. Bluff and Bronson??
James, Iowa-  strangely resides in between Leeds and Hinton on Highway 75

So…go ahead, sherlock homies, get on the case. No need for a trench coat and fedora or 1930’s style monologue though. Just report your theories or findings if you have the answers. Or you can suggest your own Sioux City Mysteries if you don’t have the answers.

* = Did you know ‘Atokad’ is ‘Dakota’, as in the county, spelled backwards? Much the way the old Aksarben Arena in Omaha is ‘Nebraska’ spelled backwards? Those clever Cornhuskers.

PeAcE,
DeRoin.

I told you there’d be more. The 1990’s march rolls on.

Everyone loves nicknames. If you don’t, you must be jealous you don’t have a cool one. From “The Human Highlight Film” Dominique Wilkins and “Smokin’” Joe Frazier to Louis “Satchmo” Armstrong and Eldrick “Tiger” Woods, we’ve got you covered.

Everyone loves ESPN anchor Chris Berman. If you don’t, you must not like sports. From NFL Primetime to Sportscenter to MLB’s annual Home Run Derby, the “Swami” has you covered.

Everyone loves puns. Especially this guy. If you don’t, well…there’s no reason not to. Get a sense of humor and we’ve got you covered.

Put them together and what do you have? A collection of the best nicknames in all of sports history, penned by Chris Berman.

RIGHT HERE!!

Highlights from the list include:
–Curtis “My Favorite” Martin- former New England Patriot / New York Jet running back
–Bert “Be Home” Blyleven- former starting pitcher that should be in the Baseball Hall of Fame
–”The Crime Dog” Fred McGriff- former all-star first baseman and slugger
–Andre “Bad Moon” Rison- former wide receiver whose house was burned down; huge fan of Credence Clearwater Revivial*
–Jeff “Brown Paper” Bagwell- former Houston Astro first baseman and MVP
–Roberto “Remember the” Alomar- former all-star second baseman
–Scott “Supercalifragilisticexpiala” Brosius- former New York Yankee / Oakland Athletic third baseman
–”Tux” Cito Gaston- Toronto Blue Jays manager
–Kirk “Weekly” Rueter- former San Francisco Giant pitcher
(* = unconfirmed)

Don’t understand some of the jokes? Get at me and I’ll explain. Also, what are some of your all-time favorites?? Remember some that didn’t make the list??

PeAcE.
DeRoin.

“It’s been a long time; I shouldn’t have left you without a strong rhyme to step to.” I know you missed the periodic installments of nostalgia…so here’s the first of a whole barrage of “90’s On My Mind” fun. It’s guaranteed to make you say, “Ah yea, them were the days”

First on my train of thought down memory lane, let’s make a stop at Camp Anawanna. I never went to summer camp, and this Nickelodeon original proved to me why I wouldn’t want to.

But ’Salute Your Shorts’ was awesome anyway. Originally running from 1991 to 1992 (around the same time as another favorite of mine- ‘Wild & Crazy Kids’), we followed a group of eight junior high kids and their dim camp counselor around for a summer. It was a simpler time in television, and for being a kid’s show, they got away with a lot of fart jokes and things that wouldn’t fly today (cuz we’re so P.C., ya know). The crew got into all sorts of hijinks across zany and/or corny plotlines (like sneaking off campgrounds to go to the movies, sneaking out of their bunks at midnight, sneaking junk food into camp—basically a whole lot of sneaking) but that was expected. What wasn’t expected? Well, how good all the actors were. In an age of many sub-par kid actors (see- McCauley Culkin), all these campers were good. So, let’s meet and remember them:

Telly Radford- Good looking tomboy who dominated every sport at camp- basketball, soccer, baseball, tennis, and of course: tetherball. But once claimed James Worthy was the best player in the NBA (hope that episode was taped before the 1991 Finals).

‘Donkeylips’ Geflin- The slobby and sloppy sidekick. Sure, he had some crazy lisp and B.O., but he was still one of the gang, even if they wouldn’t let him be on offense in ‘capture the flag’. Awful waffle!

Bobby Budnick- The redhead mulleted jerk, who wasn’t as much a bully as he was just annoying (a la Roger Klotz). He seemed to have a nice collection of adult magazines and contraband though. This tough guy had an emotion side too: was scared of spiders and had a crush on…

Dina Alexander- Spoiled rich girl. And hott, too. Would rather lay out and tan while doing her nails than participate in any activity. Not saying there’s anything wrong with that though. She also won some awards for this role.

Z.Z Ziff- Z.Z. was tops. (Yep, had to go there with that joke.) The vegetarian naturalist was no good at sports, but could arts-and-crafts you under the table. Kinda played the role of dumb blonde, but could still recognize poison sumac before you could.

Michael Stein- New kid alert! Mikey was your basic average dude who all the girls took a shine too once he arrived at Anawanna. But always kept one eye open for Zeke the Plumber. Later got chicken pox and left camp.

‘Sponge’ Harris- The smart guy. Had a ‘compact’ computer in his bunk. But he wasn’t a nerd since he once made out with a girl in a phone booth and joined the wrestling team. Besides, a nerd could remember what color a giraffe’s tongue is. Did they ever mention his real name?

Ronnie Pensky- Mid-season replacement for Michael. He was the slick-talking, cool, city kid always at odds with Budnick. Nowadays, he’s in a pretty popular band I’ve almost heard of.

Kevin ‘Ug’ Lee- Get it, ug-ly? Peculiar and awkward camp counselor always out to get his mischievous campers. But, he was constantly outwitted, took the most punishment, and ended up the butt of most jokes and pranks– just the way all adults should when dealing with rowdy kids.

Oh yeah…and you could forget the incredible theme song? Go ahead, sing-along- you know the words.

Finally, read more about your favorite episodes: HERE. Tons of episodes are available on youtube and dailymotion.

PeAcE,
DeRoin.