Archive for the ‘White Male of Distinction’ Category
Nugget Man
I mentioned him last year during my White Male of Distinction feature and also in my interview yesterday at Zenyenta’s great website, so when I came across this Youtube video honoring the Edison of Poultry, I thought I’d share it with my loyal readers.
White Male of Distinction #7: Jacko
Mark "Jacko" Jackson 1959-
Wow! Has it been a week already? I close for the week with one of the greatest players in Australian Rules Football history, a singer, and an Energizer Spokesperson who etertained America in the late 80s with his famous catch phrase, “Oi!”
Mark “Jacko” Jackson was born August 30, 1959. He first came to prominence in 1979 as a tough forward for South Fremantle in the West Australia Football League. He moved to the VFL in 1981 and enjoyed a fruitful career before retiring from Geelong in 1986. He was an entertaining player, but his colorful antics wore out in many VFL cities.
After his playing career, he launched a singing career and his song “I’m an Individual” hit number 1 in Australia. He also came to prominence in the United States as spokesperson for Energizer throughout the late 1980s. In 1988, Jacko played the role of Jetto in Sam Jones’ shortlived series “The Highwayman.” For his amazing versatility Jacko has been named a White Male of Distinction
White Male of Distinction #6: Barry Manilow
I was torn between including Barry Manilow because he was part Jewish. However, since he is also of Russian and Irish origin I thought he should count. Barry Manilow’s real name is Barry Alan Pincus and he has been thrilling America with hit records since since 1974 when the song “Mandy” went number one. Followup hits included Weekend in New England, Looks Like We Made It, Can’t Smile Without You, Copacabana, and I Write the Songs.
However, it was as a jingle writer that Barry Manilow really shined. He wrote the jingles for State Farm, Stridex, and Band Aids and sang jingles for Pepsi, Jack in the Box, Dr. Pepper, and McDonalds. His voice launched 1000 sales. It is for his talent in both music and marketing that I have named Barry Manilow a White Male of Distinction.
White Male of Distinction #3: Woody Hayes
Woody Hayes 1913-1987
The legendary football coach Woody Hayes was an Ohio State legend. Hayes won over 200 games as coach of the Buckeyes and 3 national titles. Hayes is most famous for stripping away some of the flashy aspects of football for a “3 yards and a cloud of dust approach” that was as consistent and exciting as a good hot bowl of Oatmeal on a Saturday morning in the Fall
In politics, Hayes was a strong believe in Nixon and the establishment. He helped to calm fears and anti-war protests on the Ohio State campus. Hayes was an innovator who brought the baseball style coach’s tirade to football and was an expert at storming the field to make a point. Hayes was eventually fired in 1978 after punching a Clemson player in the chest for intercepting a pass against OSU. Still, it was that kind of fight that made Hayes the coach he was and that’s why he is our White Male of Distinction for August 3rd.
“Show me a gracious loser, and I’ll show you a bus boy,” Woody Hayes
White Male of Distinction #2 – Al Primo
Al Primo 1938 -
Have you ever watched your local news and right before they gave you the weather, the news anchor gives the weatherman a fake angry look and says, “That forecast better be better this week Jerry”. Sure the weatherman has nothing to do with the actual rain outside, but that doesn’t stop the witty banter between anchors from being hysterical.
If you enjoy the jocularity of your local news broadcast as much as I do, then the person you have to thank is Al Primo. In 1965, at Philadelphia’s KYW-TV, it was news producer Al Primo who first brought us the Eye Witness News or “Happy Talk Format”. He later refined this staple of local broadcasting at WABC in New York.
Al Primo’s genius didn’t just extend to joking and good natured humor among news staffs, but it was Primo who used the musical sequence from the tar scene in Cool Hand Luke as the musical theme for WABC’s Eyewitness News ushering in a new era in television new themes. Al Primo remains a legend in the field of local television news for his profound influence. For his accomplishments, Al Primo is our White Male of Distinction for August 2nd.
