Out of the Humidor
Dear Marvin,
Loved your April edition and, in particular, the articles on Jeremy Irons and “20 For 20, The 20 Greatest Acts of Sport Since 1992.”
Irons hits the nail on the head when he says, “If you’re going to have a cigar over dinner, you’ve got to be at home to do it. I think smokers are really singled out in a way that seems disproportionate. But smokers have no lobby.”
My state now outlaws smoking in every kind of public place. Where I used to have a beer, a good cigar and listen to the blues playing now is a thing of the past. I’m sorry, but one size really doesn’t fit all. No one seems to get that.
And regarding the top 20 sporting acts, writer Shouler missed one of the granddaddy’s of all by not mentioning the 1996 Green Bay Packers. With Reggie White, Brett Favre and a slew of other great players, the team brought the Lombardi Trophy back to Titletown for the first time in 30 years. It marked the team’s 12th World Title—more than any other team—in a town of a little over 100,000 people. In an era of big-city dominance, little Green Bay continues to slug it out with the big boys and the team is owned by the people.
Keep fighting the good fight!
Kent Keys
Grand Forks, North Dakota
Dear Marvin,
As a loyal subscriber to Cigar Aficionado, I would like to say thank you for all the thoughtful and most enjoyable issues you have published. Receiving the bimonthly issue of Cigar Aficionado is one of life’s sweet pleasures my wife and I look forward to. Hence, another reason for this letter. I would like to offer a suggestion for your consideration. Your tag line on the front cover states “The Good Life Magazine for Men.” I would like to suggest the tag line also include women as well. In the year 2013, with women making up almost one-half the workforce, and women outnumbering men 36 percent to 28 percent achieving college degrees in the United States, I think it would be most appropriate to include their gender into the fold of your magazine as well, by changing the tag line to: “The Good Life Magazine for Men and Women.”
As you know and demonstrate in many of the teriffic fun photos displayed in the back of each issue, many women also smoke cigars, my wife included.
Peering into the future, I see the change as a moral and economic issue for your consideration. The time has come, and the future is now.
I would like to thank you in advance for your time regarding this matter.
Jerome Berger
DeLand, Florida
Dear Marvin,
Great interview of Mr. Irons! It must be an English “thing” as William F. Buckley inhaled too.
Christopher J. Fuller
Fort Walton Beach, Florida
Editor’s Reply: Not be argumentative, but Mr. Buckley was born in New York City. Maybe inhaling is just a personal thing for some lovers of the leaf, but it’s not one we recommend.
Dear Marvin,
Love the magazine and everything in it. Thought I’d call out Kenneth Shouler just for fun. Being as subjective as a top 20 list is, I found that the White Sox World Series victory in 2005 was not included. Surely after 96 years it was a bigger moment than some of Shouler’s choices. Had it been the Cubs I’m sure he’d still be writing about it. Oh and by the way, don’t even get me started about the Blackhawks winning the Stanley Cup.
Mike Hughes
Atlanta, Georgia
Editor’s Reply: One thing is for sure, whenever you make a list of the top 20, or 25, or 100 of anything, you are never going to please everyone in the crowd. Mr. Shouler wasn’t just looking at baseball, but every sport. Like you said, maybe the White Sox victory in the World Series should be a contender for his list. But more than the Yankees dynasty or the Red Sox victory? That’s what lists are for—good debates.
Dear Marvin,
The minute my husband brought in the mail and I saw Jeremy Irons on the cover, I knew you had done it again.
The article on Jeremy, who has earned the right to be called an “artistic genius,” was outstanding. You chose well in picking him for your cover. I liked what I read. It was refreshing to hear that he is not one to shy away from controversy, and genuinely enjoys his cigars. Keep up the good work!!
Lauretta Johnson
San Diego, California
Editor’s Reply: We agree. Anyone who is willing to stand up for their right to smoke is okay in our book. And Mr. Irons certainly falls into the category of someone willing to voice his opinion about how badly smokers are treated today. We need more like him.
