"I'm only writing a Father's Day list if it can be about why my dad is cooler than everyone else's."
"What are we doing for Father's Day?" I asked Myspace's editorial director.
A blank stare followed by a pair of expletives answered my question.
"That's this weekend..." the editorial director said. "Want to write a Father's Day list?"
"Sure, but I'm only writing a Father's Day list if it can be about why my dad is cooler than everyone else's dads," I said.
"Fine, that'll work."
Without further ado, here are the top eight reasons my dad, Jerry Chesler, is cooler than your dad.
He Was in the '70s New York Punk Scene
After catching the tail end of the hippie movement in the '60s, my dad became fully ingrained in the punk rock world of New York City in the 1970s. Aside from knowing bands like the Ramones from the beginning of their career and catching numerous shows at CBGB, he's also the reason I knew the words to most Clash songs before I could put together coherent sentences. Following it all the way through the grunge movement of the '90s, my dad was way ahead of the tide on punk and alternative music.
He's Met Some Really Cool People
Whether it's the fact that Chuck D grew up in his neighborhood (and Howard Stern went to elementary school with his sister) or meeting world-class athletes and celebrities at random charity dinners, few non-famous people have stories like my dad. My favorite is probably the time he almost knocked over Spike Lee while in the VIP restaurant at Yankee Stadium, but he'll tell you the rest of them given a few free hours and a willing audience. Oh, and that doesn't even count all of the former athletes, politicians, and big shots he meets through his business...
He Works in the Weed Industry
While there are plenty of cool day jobs for parents to have, few are fighting for marijuana legalization while keeping a roof over their families' heads. From the legal aspects of operating marijuana dispensaries and businesses to business consulting for billionaire investors, my father's a go-to for some of the biggest names in the cannabis industry. Plus, he's well-known enough that people pay him to speak at conventions and whatnot all over the country. It beats crunching numbers in an office all day.
He Traveled Cross-Country for My Dream
Your pops went to your Little League games? That's cute. Not only did my dad fly with me to locations like Omaha and Arkansas (among other nicer places) so I could show prospective coaches my baseball skills, but he also drove across state lines just so I didn't have to make the trek to my first professional game by myself. Oh, and all of those college recruiting videos and whatnot that you have to do to get the best scholarship offers? He shot those for me too.
He Still Knows What's Cool
From going to modern rock concerts (some of his favorites were the Strokes, System of a Down, Anti-Flag, and Red Hot Chili Peppers) to regularly listening to bands like Smashing Pumpkins and the Offspring, my dad's taste in music is a lot more current than you'd expect from someone closing in on 60. He loves Chuck Palahniuk books, goes to every hipster foodie spot in town, and quotes rap lyrics even if he doesn't know exactly who said it or what it means. Hip hop's not really his thing, but he grew up with Parliament Funkadelic, so can you blame him?
He's a Sports Encyclopedia
If there was a national trivia contest for New York-based sports questions, my dad would probably make it to the finals. But even outside of his all-time favorite teams (Yankees, Giants, Knicks), he'll still school you in most topics. He even made the switch from boxing to MMA almost 10 years ago once the UFC cracked the mainstream and can speak semi-intelligently on that. If you wear some New York sports attire around him, he'll probably try to talk to you about it (even if you don't speak English).
He's Always Trying New Things
From sports to food, music to traveling, my dad's always down to check out whatever the cool new thing is. He'll probably stop one day and become one of those old people who do the same things every day/week/month (he's already got his "regular spots" picked out), but even then he'll probably follow along with whatever my brother and I are into as best he can.
He's My Dad
Ultimately, my dad is the best dad because he's my dad. You probably disagree (unless you're my brother), but that just makes you wrong. Go be wrong with your own dad, he'll probably lie to you and tell you that you're right. Happy Father's Day.
