I wouldn’t say I’m a huge memorabilia collector, but I do have some pieces I like. Most of them revolve around my favorite teams. I don’t go out and actively seek out special memorabilia. The majority of the time they are things that I get from going to an event like a bobblehead or a gnome. A lot of other things that I have were either handed down to me or gifted to me by friends or relatives.
But I do like an interesting piece of memorabilia when I see it. Of course I think bobbleheads are great. When I went to see the Mets play in Chicago it was a Jake Arrietta bobblehead day. That one was pretty great because of the beard on the bobblehead. I also have some old pennants that came from my Dad for both the Mets and Giants (football Giants) and then some old newspapers and newspaper inserts from October of ’69 and ’86
Selecting a Local Team
I can’t stand any of the local professional teams in the DC area. The exception might be DC United, but the MLS isn’t huge on my rooting priorities list. But the Redskins, Capitals, Wizards and Nationals have all either been or become rivals to the teams that I root for (or they are sadly better and I root against them – schadenfruede). I had the urge to get a local team to root for.
I live pretty close to George Mason University and I now have family that works there, so over the last few years I’ve really gotten into going to a basketball game or two (men’s or women’s doesn’t matter) and enjoying a game. I’ve always been a college basketball fan so that certainly made it easy. Obviously the success from 12 years ago in the Final Four for the men’s team and the move to the Atlantic 10 has made things a little more exciting on the basketball front. But part of the reason the games are so enjoyable though is because of the Green Machine.
The Green Machine is the pep band led by Dr. Michael Nickens and they are truly the best pep band in the country. Even if EagleBank Arena is empty (like it was recently for a women’s NIT tournament game during Spring Break), Doc and the band get that place rockin’.
There are so many reasons to like them… first off, Doc Nix has some style. He’s always dressed up and taking control. He’s got some great suits that always fit the George Mason colors and he might have a necklace or two. Plus that goatee is always on point. Second, these guys play some really great music. Yeah, they play some of the classic pep band stuff, but they also play some Rage Against the Machine, Beastie Boys, Beyoncé, and other stuff like that. Third, they are full of interesting instruments and characters. They have singers, a light up drum set, a guitar and base and a local guy we call “Tuba Guy” who plays with them (with his light up tuba). They had a harpist last year too. These guys are awesome.
This Was The Start
This is what I started out with last year. The Doc Nix doll was first. The glasses, baton, goatee and outfit are perfect. Then for Christmas I got the black Green Machine hoody. Both are awesome. I probably rock the hoody too much (as I do with all my hoodies), but now I have some GMU gear to wear to games. The little Doc Nix is on display in my TV room with a bunch of other stuff.
I know there is a bobble head and maybe a gnome out there that I’d love to have.
Something New
Then last week this came home… Doc Nix Nesting Dolls. No way!
This is one of the coolest promo items I’ve ever seen. All show Doc with a different expression and display parts of his awesome wardrobe. I don’t know if I’ve ever seen something like this but I love it.
When I first got it the largest one was really hard to open and I had to take a box knife to get a little separation. Thankfully I didn’t do any damage
About Doc Nix and the Green Machine
If you’re not familiar with Doc Nix and the Green Machine, here’s a little about Doc from the Washingtonian.
Dr. Michael Nickens or “Doc Nix” is the Director of Athletic Bands and is also an Associate Professor of Music in Applied Tuba. He has degrees from the Manhattan School of Music, Yale, and Michigan. He’s been at George Mason since 2006.
And here’s some Green Machine for you enjoyment (this is a YouTube rabbit hole I always love to go down):
Midnight Madness 2016
Midnight Madness 2017
Other Footage