Life Looks Better in the Rearview

Today's Hemingway says every Gen has its fabricated nostalgia

My name is Ben Shooner. I was double-Jesuit-indoctrinated at St X and XU and am now a market research/insights analyst. A frequent peruser of this space, I’m a fan of the Reds, Bengals and Muskies and Delhisian by choice. I love music, beer, movies (ahem ‘films’), golf, and managing my kids’ schedules.

“Football fans share a universal language that cuts across many cultures and many personality types. A serious football fan is never alone. We are legion, and football is often the only thing we have in common.”

-Hunter S Thompson

Given his revolutionary disposition, Dr. Gonzo’s love for football (and firearms) can seem out of place to some. But his love was genuine, as he sadly chose to leave this mortal coil some years ago in the weeks following the Super Bowl. While that level of gravity is extreme, his sentiment regarding the ecumenical nature of football fandom is obvious. Every Bengal Sunday we gather in my Delhi neighbor’s garage. Folks of different ages, occupations and political stripes bond over our Men in stripes. The Longworth Hall tailgate lot includes a cartoonish level of socio-cultural diversity every game day.