The Miami Marlins may not be winning many games in 2013, or trotting out too many Major League-caliber talents, but they sure have been creative in their pre and postgame attractions for fans.
Sunday night may have represented their best effort yet, bringing wrestling legend Bill Goldberg to Marlins Park to throw out the first pitch. Goldberg made his toss, but then seemed to grow "unhappy" when the ceremonial catcher, clad in a purple shirt, began to talk a little smack about the ex-World Championship Wrestling champion. Trash-talking Goldberg, an ex-lineman for the Atlanta Falcons, is generally a poor idea.
Goldberg responded to the taunting with his vaunted spear, one of his signature moves as he rampaged through the wrestling world from 1998-2000. During that stretch Goldberg was WCW's answer to the WWF's "Attitude Era," headlined by Stone Cold Steve Austin. Goldberg was massive, and started his career on a lengthy unbeaten streak that stretched to 173-0 and became part of his gimmick. He would massacre his opponents and then shout "Who's next?!" after each win.
Goldberg wrestled for WWE from 2003- 2004, immediately entering the fray and beginning a feud with The Rock. He speared him on the edition of Monday Night Raw that directly followed WrestleMania XIX, then defeated "The Brahma Bull" on the next pay-per-view, Backlash.
Goldberg's signature moves were the spear and the "Jackhammer," and he even used them on Hulk Hogan during a pay-per-view show.
Goldberg's picture-perfect spear seemed to invigorate the Marlins, who rode seven shutout innings from Jose Fernandez to a 3-0 victory over the Colorado Rockies. Fernandez racked up eight strikeouts without walking anyone.
Luckily they held off asking "Who's next?" The Rockies hadn't left town yet, and returned the favor on Sunday by topping Miami 4-3, and taking two of three for the series victory.
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