Five 406 MT Sports writers in Five on Five

1. Which Montana sports team mascot that attends games in a traditional mascot role is your favorite?

John Letasky: It’s baseball season and I always associate mascots with the national pastime, so I’m going with the Billings Mustangs’ Homer. 

Jeff Welsch: Tough to top the Chinook Sugarbeeter, but in a nod to the season and for sheer entertainment, you can’t go wrong with the Missoula PaddleHeads moose.

Briar Napier: Listen, if I was driving to the basket mid-basketball game and the smiling Chinook Sugarbeeter was eyeing me down, I don’t think my layup attempt would hit the backboard.

Chris Peterson: Since I’ve covered quite a few Chinook games from my time with the Havre Daily, I have to go with the Chinook Sugarbeeter. 

Victor Flores: I’ll answer this question if/when Champ and Monte wrestle during halftime of the Brawl of the Wild.

2. PBR cowboys are set to be on trading cards. Do you have a favorite all-time trading card? 

John Letasky: I’m excited to see the PBR cards. But to answer the question, yes, the Rickey Henderson Topps rookie card. 

Jeff Welsch: My mint-condition 1968 Topps Nolan Ryan rookie card is ashes to ashes and dust to dust in a landfill near Lansing, Michigan. Thanks, Mom.

Briar Napier: A 1981 Topps Joe Montana rookie card, for the fact my Dad owns one and judging by the eBay price may make us rich one day.

Chris Peterson: Mark Grace. He was my favorite baseball player growing up and I collected a ton of his cards, although I never got a rookie card or anything. 

Victor Flores: I’m not a Brewers fan, but the Paul Molitor card I owned has stuck with me because I didn’t realize who he was, let alone how good he was, until I looked at that card.

3. Who are two all-time sports figures you’d like to see debate each other? 

John Letasky: Bart Giamatti vs. Pete Rose would have been interesting. 

Jeff Welsch: Muhammad Ali and Charles Barkley, moderated by Tony Kornheiser. 

Briar Napier: Muhammad Ali and Michael Jordan. Two of the debatable GOATs in their sports who backed up their talk like no others.

Chris Peterson: Jim Harbaugh and the late great John Madden. Two men have never loved football more than those two.  

Victor Flores: Draymond Green and Gary Payton — arguably the two best defenders and trash talkers in NBA history. Viewer discretion advised.

4. Aside from the Great Divide Trophy, what is another memorable Montana sports trophy? 

John Letasky: I’m going to go with the newly created Bruce Parker Trophy, given to the winner of the annual Rimrock Rivalry series between MSU Billings and Rocky Mountain College. 

Jeff Welsch: Here’s my pitch for a return of the Bishop’s Bowl between Billings Central and Butte Central. C’mon, Rams, 10 years as long enough penance for the Maroons.

Briar Napier: Big fan of the Little Brown Stein, though I wish the winning team could pour themselves a drink in it and chug it mid-celebration a la Indy 500 and milk.

Chris Peterson: The Ole Goat. It was the traveling trophy between Great Falls High and Havre. Not sure if it’s still actively played for. 

Victor Flores: The Little Brown Stein is the only other one I could think of, and it’s a good one, especially because the road team keeps winning it.

5. What was your favorite breakfast cereal as a youth? 

John Letasky: Probably Rice Krispies, but if ever at a friend’s for a sleepover and Cocoa Pebbles was available that is what I chose. 

Jeff Welsch: Nothing paired better than the Detroit Free Press sports section, baseball boxscores and a bowl of Wheaties carpeted in — stop reading here, kids — sugar. 

Briar Napier: Cinnamon Toast Crunch, hands down. Incorporate it into a cheesecake with whipped cream to enjoy it the adult way.

Chris Peterson: I honestly don’t remember. Probably cereal as I watched ESPN’s Sportscenter at 6 a.m. 

Victor Flores: I gravitated to Lucky Charms and Fruit Loops whenever I went to my grandparents’ house (my parents wouldn’t buy either for us, tragically). But my answer is the Vanilla Almond Clusters from Trader Joe’s.