The Road Goes Ever On
It is an odd feeling. Landing in an airport, in a city you don’t know, in a state you don’t recognize and know that this is now your home. Everything is foreign and yet everything will eventually be familiar. The walk to catch a taxi, the cityscape flying by your window, blurred street names streaking past. All strangers who will one day be friends. These thoughts and many more were swirling through my head as I found my way to my new job at Barstool Sports.
Who am I? Its a loaded question at 36 years old. I feel young, I like painting miniatures, I like playing World of Warcaft, I love dressing up as a wizard and playing Dungeons and Dragons, I love drinking, I love some drugs and I still don’t know how taxes work. But at the same time, I’ve been dating my wife since I was 16 years old, I have 3 kids, (7, 5, and 2 years old), I own a home, and have woken up at 430am every day for the past decade. Older people think I’m young and younger people think I’m old and my kids think I know everything. One day they’ll realize that which we all do- That we’re all just idiots trying to make this shit happen one day at a time. I was born in Louisiana, grew up in Georgia, and then spent the last 18 years back in Baton Rouge and New Orleans. I have hosted a 3-4 hour daily radio show for the past 12 years and recently I've been given the opportunity to join the pirate ship known as Barstool Sports.
Thusly we arrive in Chicago. One of the great cities of the modern world. Our American Constantinople, where east meets the west. A megalopolis wrested out of the prairie through sheer human force of will and commerce. I’ve never experienced winter before and I know its going to chew me up and spit me out, but… White Christmas?! A cool, autumnal crisp in the air?! Changing leaves?! Birdsong as the snow thaws?! Will my kids play hockey?! Will they grow up Cubs fans?! Will they have midwest accents?! Outside of the accents, these were all dreams that I assumed were far beyond my reach. This job has opened doors I believed forever closed. Which brings me to my final point.
I wanted to write this as a way to get my own thoughts on paper but also maybe give some of yall who would care a chance to get to know me. Most importantly, however, I want yall to know that this opportunity that I have been given is not lost on me. I do not take it lightly that I now get to live in one of the greatest cities in the world working for one of the greatest companies in the world. I am cognizant of this and I will work my ass off every single day to try and entertain yall. For the first time in a long time I have no idea what the future holds and that is simultaneously terrifying and exciting.