The Musings of a Memphis Grizzlies Fan
After an extended beer break, I return to "A Fan's Notes" with an exhaustive look at how I became, and why I remain, a diehard fan of the Memphis Grizzlies.
‘A Fan’s Notes’ Blog
“It was my fate, my destiny, my end, to be a fan.” —Frederick Exley
Inspired by “A Fan’s Notes”—Exley’s “fictional memoir” published in 1968—this blog explores the everyday objects of my own fandom, from beer to books, from music to sports, from outdoor adventures to travel destinations, and much more.
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‘A Fan’s Notes’ archives
The Musings of a Memphis Grizzlies Fan
After an extended beer break, I return to "A Fan's Notes" with an exhaustive look at how I became, and why I remain, a diehard fan of the Memphis Grizzlies.
Beer Break: A Colorado Brew and Bukowski Quote
The first in an occasional series in which I forego my usual deep dive and let the art (mostly) speak for itself. To begin, an IPA from Nederland and a quote from Charles Bukowski.
An Ode to ‘Annie Hall’
“I would never want to belong to any club that would have someone like me for a member”—except maybe a club for fans of the film “Annie Hall.” My latest is a deep dive into Woody Allen’s 1977 masterpiece.
It Was My Fate to Be a Denver Broncos Fan
The story of my lifelong Broncos fandom begins nearly five decades ago, far from the Mile High City and in the unlikeliest of ways. For my latest blog, I detail the unusual path I took to becoming a Denver diehard.
Revisiting One of My Favorite Poems
My latest is a deep dive into a poem by Charles Baudelaire that advises us to “be always drunken”—but not only with alcohol. I explore my relationship with the poem and what it means to also “be drunk on poetry and virtue.”
Three Decades (and Counting) of Steely Dan Fandom
For more than three decades, I’ve been a devotee of the band Steely Dan—or simply The Dan, which was the brainchild of Donald Fagen and Walter Becker. My latest blog explores 30-plus years of being a Danfan.
Introducing ‘A Fan’s Notes,’ the Blog
Welcome to the first installment of my newly launched blog, “A Fan’s Notes.” The title comes from one of my favorite books, Frederick Exley’s 1968 “fictional memoir” of the same name.
Blog archives
The truth about Mary Jo Mayton
This blog is for anyone who knew and loved my father, Phil Smith, and for anyone who knows and loves Mary Jo Mayton. It’s intended especially for anyone who believed that Mary Jo ever loved Phil. If she did love him, she wouldn’t have done the things documented here.
The Road Always Leads to Crested Butte
We were somewhere along Colorado state route 114 heading to Crested Butte when the dread began to take hold.
Top Trails and Ales in Colorado
Colorado is a beer lover’s mecca. The state boasts 284 craft breweries, or 7.3 breweries per 100,000 residents of legal drinking age, ranking third in the U.S. And its seemingly infinite backcountry is overflowing with numerous trails that begin just around the bend or down a dusty road from many of those breweries.
Breckenridge on Budget
As the leaves change and temperatures drop, my thoughts turn to winter and my travel planning shifts westward to Colorado, where the high country awaits the season’s first snow and the mountains begin calling. Autumn means it’s time to start thinking about our annual ski trip to Breckenridge, Colorado, a place that has beckoned us back again and again for 15 years.
The Long and Winding Road to Breck
Sometimes the journey is more important than the destination. My wife, Sandy, and I discovered this when we embarked on a weeklong ski trip to Breckenridge, Colo. The threat of our vacation being canceled sparked an important decision -- and memorable adventure.