My wife was telling my kids that drinking soda pop was not very good for them, and I recalled how important Coca-Cola was to my early development. I grew up in Rogers Park, a Chicago neighborhood along Lake Michigan.

My fathers’ mother used to make “Black Cows” for us whenever we came to visit. A “Black Cow” is root beer with a scoop of vanilla ice cream. Very tasty.

As kids, we used to ride our bikes to the corner candy store. Do they exist anymore? We’d get a bottle of Coke and hang out in front of “Sid’s” candy store drinking our pop and looking cool. As we were riding our bikes, we also looked for empty bottles for which we would get 2 cents a bottle. We would save the pennies up for candy, Cokes, and the new issue of Superman comics. First of all, we live in the suburbs where there are no porches, almost no apartment buildings, and certainly no alleys. It seems so long ago that I rode my bike everywhere, (It was called a Corvette Stingray and had high handlebars and a long, “banana” seat), and drank soda pop every day! Another favorite drink was a “Green River”. Every once in a while, usually in a delicatessen, I’ll find a Green River, or even better, a “chocolate phosphate” on the menu.

The stuff we grew up on we’re now telling our kids is no good for them. It makes me think that maybe all my problems came from drinking too much soda pop! I remember my first Green River was with a hamburger and fries at a restaurant on Clark Street across from our apartment. It must have been 1964 -- the jukebox was playing “Secret Agent Man” and Roy Orbison’s hit song, “Pretty Woman”, Grrrrrrrrrrr.

My neighbors were over last night for cigars and drinks and we were talking about soccer and football. It dawned on me that my parents had nothing to say about what sports I played. Every day in the summer we played baseball. Either against a wall, or if we had enough guys in the street, or at the park. Same with football. When the weather changed, as it is doing right now, we got out the old pigskin and played touch or tackle. We weren’t wusses. We played until it was too dark to see! Something is lost. There was no organized sports where I grew up. No soccer dads or hired coaches. My grandparents, aunts, and uncles all lived within walking distance. Now everyone lives in a different city, or different state. There’s no Coke bottles, no corner candy store, no organ grinder with his monkey, and no guy sharpening knives from building to building. Oh well, I guess I’ll go on-line and check out www.dietcoke.com which the can says is all about me! Y2K I’m ready!

The superstar superagent is a new phenom as well and we’re lucky to have Robert Wuhl as our cover story for Fall. Robert plays superagent Arli$$ Michaels on the HBO hit tv show Arli$$ with the style and panache of a freight train heading straight into a collission. Brassy, ballsy and self absorbed Arli$$ fights for every multi-million dollar contract from the boardroom to the bedroom. The show has just been picked up for its’ third year and if you’ve seen it you know why. It’s one of the funniest shows on television.

Speaking of funny, we’ve got funny! Pete Barbutti was one of Johnny Carson’s favorite guests on the Tonight Show. He would come out with his accordion smoking a cigar with a toilet plunger stuck on the piano and crack everyone up. And when comedian Bill Engvall talks about how stupid people are you can understand why he’s best friends with Jeff, (redneck), Foxworthy. Light up and have a laugh with both of these fellas.

Gianni Russo played Carlo in The Godfather and we’re lucky enough to call him our friend. Cigar Smoker Magazine caught up with Gianni on the set of “On Any Sunday” filmed in Miami.

You may also remember actor Dan Lauria as Kevin Arnolds’ father in The Wonder Years. Dan has a new series and is always busy promoting his Coronet Theatre project in Los Angeles.

Bob Arum is the man behind Golden Boy, Oscar DeLaHoya. In our interview Bob talks about how he got started as a promoter, his opinions on scoring, and the future of boxing. Girls, girls, girls! We’ve got blondes, brunettes, and redheads for all of you guys who keep asking for more pictures of women smoking cigars. Check this issue out! We present our Cigar Smoker Magazine centerfold, Lisa Gayle, who lends a new meaning to fun on the water. Our voluptuos redhead, actress Tracy Griffith, who may be seen in movies, soap operas, and television shows. And new on the scene, our engenue, brunette, Tamara Johnson. Also worth checking out is our coverage of the American Dream Girls beauty pageant held in Las Vegas, Nevada. While we’re talking about Vegas we also present our picks for the ten best golf courses in Las Vegas. Our favorite track is the Badlands. Target golf at its finest. Cigar Smoker Magazine also clowned around at the Jim Shorts Celebrity Golf Tournament with sports, radio and tv personalities.

As always, we encourage you to drop us a note and let us know what you’re smoking and what fun you’re up to. See you soon.

Have a great smoke!

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With kindest regards,

Jonathan Scott
Publisher