The famous slogan and debate was “taste great, less filling.”

One may recall it from the legendary Miller Lite beer commercials that began in 1974 and ran until 1991. Their campaign began modestly with mystery writer Mickey Spillane, ex-Jets running Matt Snell, and jazz drummer Buddy Rich.

The ads became a phenomena with sports and pop culture figures and developed a heightened following in the 1980s. Stars each took a side and debated whether it tasted great or was it less filling.

In this week’s version of my Yesterday column - a trip back in time to the 1960s, the 1970s, 1980s and sometimes beyond - I will take a look at some of the classic TV ads involving athletes, as well as some familiar and unfamiliar items in the summer and throughout the year.

Billy, Bubba, and George ... One of the most memorable commercials in the series for me was the one involving Yankees manager Billy Martin and owner George Steinbrenner. Martin was fired by Steinbrenner five times, and their ad played this situation beautifully.

There also were the classic ones with former all-pro defensive end Bubba Smith in solo appearances, and also with former all-pro linebacker Dick Butkus, who both were more refined playing tennis and polo.

Dangerfield and the others ... Comedian Rodney Dangerfield, who was at the height of his career in the late 70s, was a huge hit with his one liners and slapstick style. Dangerfield always was seen on the losing end of a competition when the ads expanded to teams.

Ex-coach and commentator John Madden acknowledged and presented his active sideline behavior in the ads, and backup ex-catcher Bob Uecker became a huge hit for his self-belittling character that helped his rise to stardom.

There also was a classic bit featuring ex-slugger Boog Powell and ex-umpire Jim Honochick, who puts his glasses on at the end and recognizes Powell.

In addition, ex-defensive ends Deacon Jones and Ben Davidson had some great cameos, and ex-head coach Tommy Heinsohn was colorful as well. Yogi Berra and Mickey Mantle even got into the act.

Every week, we would wait on the weekend to see who would be on the next commercial. They were priceless.

Bud Bowl ... During Super Bowl XXIII in 1989, Budweiser revealed its inaugural “Bud Bowl,” in which Budweiser bottles played against Bud Light bottles in a Super Bowl format. I honestly forgot about it until I was doing some research. This was a time when the Internet hadn’t yet taken off, and it was an effective gimmick.

Bob Costas and Paul McGuire had the call. There was a cutaway to the “Heidi” movie, reminiscent of the same cutaway to the movie during the Jets and Raiders 1968 game.

There were six Bud Bowls overall. It culminated in 1997 with Howie Long and Ronnie Lott with the call of the contest.

USBL in WIldwood? ... Wildwood, New Jersey, has been a popular summer vacation spot for Lehigh Valley/Carbon County/Schuylkill County residents for decades.

Did anyone who was in Wildwood during the summer of 1985 and 1986 ever attend a Wildwood Aces game at Convention Hall? They were part of the initial pack of teams in the United States Basketball League that launched in 1985.

The team moved to Philadelphia in 1987. They featured Big Five stars Ralph Lewis, Granger Hall, Stewart Granger and Tim Legler. Gary McLain joined the team in the summer of 1985 after his Villanova Wildcats won the national championship.

McLain wrote an expose in Sports Illustrated two years later detailing his cocaine use during their championship season.

I’ll Take A Bottle ... During our youth, summer wouldn’t be complete without getting a bottle of soda from the usually outside and refrigerated Coke machines, where one had to pull the bottle up out of its slot and then pop the cap with a can opener in the front. They were normally very cold, and hit the spot.

Does anyone remember the Frosty root beer bottles with the man with the white beard and iced hair on the blue and white bottle? How about Moxie Cola, which had a root beer flavor with an aftertaste?

Both are among the oldest mass produced colas, and they both contain pure cane sugar. Both can still be found either online, or in some grocery stores.

While we were getting our fill of sodas, our moms were probably drinking a Fresca or Tab, and our dads likely had a Schmidt’s, a Schlitz, or even an Iron City or a Reading.

A Diet Pepsi and Two Hall of Fame Quarterbacks ... After the 1985 Super Bowl, Joe Montana and Dan Marino were featured in a Diet Pepsi ad. Montana’s 49ers beat Marino’s Dolphins in the game. This is another one where I had to take a second look.

It is a 30-second spot, and both quarterbacks actually mention plays from the game. Montana buys Marino a Diet Pepsi, and Marino responds that he will buy next year. It’s on YouTube, and Marino is very youthful looking.

Some Summer Scenes ... As summer hits its first month, think back to some things that were staples of our times.

Remember drinking from a hose or running through the sprinkler in someone’s backyard? I also remember drinking from creeks and streams. There were those endless days at the pool, and/or those seemingly long nights at the basketball courts.

Don’t forget how watermelon and corn-on-the-cob were big treats, and who could forget the days and nights of miniature golf? As we got older, the nights at the drive-in theaters were always special.

Those Who Left Us ... Those who are old enough may remember the show “F Troop,” which ran from September 1965 to April 1967. It was one of those shows that also was on TV during the summer when we were young. Larry Storch, who played Corporal Agarn, recently passed away at the age of 99.

Our summer memories wouldn’t be complete without the song, “Summer Breeze,” the Seals and Crofts tune that reached the top of charts in 1972. Jim Seals recently passed away at the age of 80.

Do You Remember? ... Every week, I’ll mention a possible forgotten player or manager from yesterday. Do you remember the Phillies’ Deron Johnson? Johnson was the team’s first baseman and clean-up hitter for five of his 16-year career. Johnson hit .251 with 88 homers and drove in 304 runs with the Phillies from 1969-73. He later returned as a batting coach from 1982-84. Johnson passed away at the age of 53 due to lung cancer in 1992.