I always thought that Hunter S. Thompson would die from an overdose of alcohol, drugs, and sheer bravado. But it seems that Hunter preferred the Hemingway method since he shot himself in the head last night at his Woody Creek home in Colorado. The strange thing is, I just happened to read his last column on the ESPN website last week in which he called Bill Murray in the middle of the night to discuss his newest brainstorm, Shotgun Golf. I was hoping to read the follow-up story and imagined the two blasting golf balls from the sky while sipping whiskey sours. Alas, it was not to be.
One of the strongest memories I have of Hunter was a guest appearance on David Letterman back in early 1988. For some reason Letterman was broadcasting that week from the Helen Hayes suite at some hotel near Times Square. "I know I have a drinking problem," he slurred as he held up his glass, "I mean, it's right here in front of me". He lamented the Gary Hart scandal that forced him out of the presidential race, and predicted that Teddy Kennedy would be the surprise Democratic presidential nominee that year. Well, Hunter was never known for his prognostications. But I've held Hunter close to my literary heart ever since I read his Hell's Angels back in 1986. That one book inspired me to write my first non-fiction story about a Jerry Garcia Band concert gone awry. I had so much fun writing that story, and without his inspired "gonzo" prose, I don't think I would have finished it. I wonder how Gary Trudeau will deal with the death of Thompson? Uncle Duke is one of my favorite comic strip characters of all time.
I saw Hunter two summers ago in Las Vegas. It was at a party for a film festival where they were honoring him. I was making my way through the crowd swarming around the bar for the closing night gala, when suddenly the masses parted. Hunter emerged, being driven on the back of a cart -- he was too drunk to walk. Everyone stared at him as he was driven by, and he turned, looked at me -- ME -- and waved in a weird, slo-mo gesture.
Posted by: Nick | February 24, 2005 at 02:19 AM
Hey that's a good one. I can just picture that in my mind. Vegas was a great place to see him. What a strange place that city is. What films did they show at the festival?
Posted by: Ralph | February 24, 2005 at 11:10 AM
I agree with most of your points, but a few need to be discussed further, I will hold a small talk with my partners and maybe I will look for you some suggestion soon
Posted by: Fantasy Football Tips | September 06, 2011 at 03:58 AM