The Many Beers of Jeremy Roenick

A good buddy of mine recently landed a journalism job that made me equal parts proud and insanely jealous: He's going to be an assistant editor for DRAFT magazine, which he describes as Cigar Aficionado for the beer enthusiast. An editorial office filled with an unending assortment of promotional beer schwag and "review" brews? I haven't asked him yet if he's paying them to work there...

He pointed me in the direction of DRAFT's Nov./Dec. issue and its cover story on Jeremy Roenick. Titled "Jeremy Roenick: He's Good" in honor of his immortalizing in the movie "Swingers," the Q&A by Bonnie Siegler covers two of Roenick's business ventures -- the Phoenix-based Muze Lounge and a line of designer shirts, Muze Clothing -- as well as his famous dust-up with Patrick Roy in 1996 (you know, the one that ended with Roy saying he couldn't hear what Roenick was saying because he had "two Stanley Cup rings plugging" his ears), his near-retirement via text message ("It was taken out of context."), the fact that Alexander Ovechkin reminds him of his younger self and, of course, beer.

The story doesn't appear to be available online, so here are some choice excerpts from the mouth of Jeremy:

DRAFT: I should ask you about your favorite beers or where your favorite places to get beers are around the country.
ROENICK: My favorite beer is Bud Light. Bud Light, Bass and Sam Adams are my three go-to beers. Those are my three favorites. It's not like I have a favorite place to drink them -- any golf course in the country will do.

Is hockey a big beer drinker's sport?
Very much so. Hockey players are legendary drinkers, to tell you the truth. After games, there's nothing better than going and having a nice cold one at the bar or having one with the boys in the locker room. Hockey players like their beer for sure.

Every year, it seems, there's that story about a player who gets ahold of the Stanley Cup and insists on drinking from it like a giant goblet.
Among other things that people do to it. If that Cup could talk, the stories it could tell. I think there have been several millions of gallons of beer drank out of the Stanley Cup.

[...]

It occurred to me, watching the clips on YouTube of you dancing that you might have a 'Dancing with the Stars' in you down the line.
I've had so many people say that I should go on there. I'm going to save my dancing steps until after I win the Cup.

I'm assuming then that if you do get ahold of the Cup, are we looking at you drinking Bud Light out of it?
You might have to get me out of AA at the end of the summer if I win the Cup.

Any thoughts on a possible broadcast career afterward? I think of you along with Charles Barkley and John Kruk, guys who have done well making that transition.
Absolutely. All my doors are open. I would love to be in broadcasting, but that's not in my future right now. But absolutely I would like to stay close to it that aspect. I'd bring honesty, frankness, comedy, a little bit of wise-guy attitude. A little brashness. Tell it like it is. Kind of the same way I played.

The rest of the interview is worth finding for Roenick's insights on the business of hockey in America, the success of the Blackhawks in Chicago and his own interesting NHL history.

Two reactions to the excerpts above. As far as his television future goes, I've said for years that the best thing that can happen for American hockey fans is for Roenick to retire and become the hurricane-force commentator the sport has never had in the U.S. You know, the kind of bully-pulpit wise ass Brett Hull was supposed to be on NBC before he realized he was as bored as we were watching him.

Finally, I know that hockey players pride themselves on being salt-of-the-earth, blue collar guys ... but Bud Light? Seriously, Jeremy: Bud Light? I've had bottles of Dasani with more personality. I nod in approval of Bass Ale, but putting Bud Light over as your favorite beer is like saying "Still Standing" is your favorite sitcom. Or it's because you're poor.

Not saying I wouldn't have a beer with the guy, because when it comes to the NHL, he has to be in the Top 5. Especially after Ricci retired.