«« Mini-Rewind ««

• Better Off Dead starring John Cusack hit theaters on August 23, 1985.

• On August 23, 1989, Major League Baseball Commissioner Bart Giamatti banned the game’s all-time hit king Pete Rose for life for betting on baseball games.

• Brutus “The Barber” Beefcake & Greg “The Hammer” Valentine won the WWF Tag Team titles beating The U.S. Express on August 24, 1985.

• Regarded as one of the best albums of all-time, Graceland by Paul Simon was released August 25, 1987.

• Ghostbusters became the biggest grossing comedy film of all-time in the U.S. ($229.2M) exceeding Tootsie’s $177.2M.

• August 28, 1984 the Jackson’s “Victory Tour” broke the record for concert ticket sales with $1.1M in just two months.

• Hall & Oates hit #1 on the charts again (third time) with the single Private Eyes (August 29, 1981).

• The Vietnam war film, Hamburger Hill (August 28, 1987) was released in theaters.

• On August 28, 1988, singer Kylie Minogue set a UK record when her debut album “Kylie” sold 2 million copies. It was the biggest selling album by a female artist in Britain.

• Tom Hanks made his film debut in the movie “He Knows You’re Alone”. The film was released August 29, 1980.

Teen Wolf (1985) is one of those wonderfully quirky ‘80s comedies that could only star Michael J. Fox. Hot off his Back to the Future fame, Fox played Scott Howard, an ordinary high schooler who discovers he has a very hairy family secret - he’s a werewolf. Instead of hiding it, Scott embraces his wolf side and suddenly becomes the coolest kid in school, slam-dunking his way to Beavers basketball glory.

Here’s a fun tidbit: Fox actually hated the bulky wolf makeup, saying it was uncomfortable and hot to perform in. Also, the famous “wolf surfing on a van” scene was inspired by a real stunt one of the crew members used to do in college! While critics were mixed at the time, the movie became a cult favorite and even spawned a Saturday morning cartoon. It’s cheesy, funny, and full of that unmistakable ‘80s charm that makes it endlessly rewatchable…unlike #2 (without Michael J. Fox, sorry Jason).

The very first SummerSlam took place on August 29, 1988, at Madison Square Garden in New York City, and it set the tone for what would become one of WWE’s “Big Four” pay-per-views. The WWF wanted a blockbuster summer event to rival WrestleMania, and they delivered.

The main event was pure ‘80s wrestling spectacle: two of my all time favorites teamed up to become The Mega Powers (Hulk Hogan and “Macho Man” Randy Savage) to face The Mega Bucks (Ted DiBiase and André the Giant), with none other than Jesse “The Body” Ventura as the special referee (Ventura was an underrated talent in the ‘80s WWF). To add drama, the beautiful Miss Elizabeth played a key role at ringside, famously distracting the villains in a way only she could.

Elsewhere on the card, fans saw The Ultimate Warrior win the Intercontinental Championship in just 31 seconds, demolishing The Honky Tonk Man and shocking the crowd. That moment alone helped launch Warrior into superstardom.

It was big, loud, over-the-top fun - classic ‘80s WWF.

In the mid-1980s, Dwight “Doc” Gooden became the ultimate teenage sensation for the New York Mets, capturing the attention of baseball fans everywhere. Bursting onto the scene at just 19, he dominated hitters with a blazing fastball and one of the nastiest curveballs the game had ever seen, quickly earning the nickname “Dr. K.” His sophomore season in 1985 was legendary, he went 24 - 4 with a dazzling 1.53 ERA and struck out 268 batters, winning the Cy Young Award at only 20 years old. Gooden wasn’t just a pitcher; he was a phenomenon, filling Shea Stadium with excitement and giving the Mets a true superstar. In those early years, it seemed like Doc was destined to be the face of baseball’s future.

🎧 Retro Picks of the Week

📺 T.V. Show: The Wonder Years (1988–1993) was a heartfelt coming-of-age series that followed Kevin Arnold as he navigated the trials of adolescence during the late 1960s and early 1970s. Blending nostalgia, humor, and emotion, it became a timeless portrait of growing up and remains one of television’s most beloved classics.

📼 Movie: Strange Brew (1983) is a cult comedy starring Rick Moranis and Dave Thomas as the bumbling McKenzie brothers, who stumble into a zany plot involving mind control at a Canadian brewery. With its offbeat humor and heavy dose of “hoser” charm, it became a quirky fan favorite of the ’80s.

🎵 Song: Released in 1987, Aerosmith’s Dude (Looks Like a Lady) is a high-energy rock anthem known for its catchy riffs, Steven Tyler’s powerhouse vocals, and cheeky lyrics. The song became one of the band’s signature hits of the late ’80s, showcasing their comeback era with bold, playful attitude.

🕹️ Video Game: Centipede (1980) is a classic arcade shooter where players use a trackball to fire at a descending centipede weaving through a field of mushrooms. Its fast-paced action, colorful graphics, and addictive gameplay made it one of Atari’s biggest early hits.

👾 Cartoon: The Real Ghostbusters (1986–1991) was the animated spin-off of the hit 1984 film, following the adventures of the ghost-busting team as they battled ghouls, goblins, and supernatural chaos across New York City. With its mix of comedy, action, and spooky fun, it became a Saturday morning cartoon favorite for a generation of ’80s kids.