Today is Hulk Hogan’s birthday. Let’s just pause and reflect on that for a second…. Good? OK.

I used to love wrestling, and still feel a twinge of nostalgia for it every so often. So during my time reflecting on the Hulkster’s birthday, I remembered a really great piece by Bill Simmons’ on Grantland on wrestler’s entrance themes. In the article (a must-read for any wrestling fan, or former wrestling fan), Simmons gives credit to Hogan’s entrance “I Am A Real American” as ushering in original songs for wrestlers to walk to the ring to.

The song was written by Rick Derringer, a former member of The McCoys (“Hang on Sloopy”) and one time affiliate of Edgar Winte, Steely Dan, Todd Rundgren, and he also opened for Led Zeppelin on their last American tour. I didn’t know that because “I am a Real American” totally obscures Derringer’s career by being absolutely amazing.

Not only is this song associated with arguably the greatest wrestler ever,  it also holds its place in pop culture lore, thanks to these other American Heroes.

Beavis and Butthead embody the American Spirit of sitting down and watching TV to make fun of it (NSFW language):

Our current American Hero, Kenny Powers, made his triumphant return to baseball with the song (again NSFW language):

And finally, adding some much needed clout to this blog post, President Obama came out to the song during the 2011 White House Correspondent’s dinner: