The Origins of The Norsemen as told by one of the founding fathers...

WHO (OR WHAT) ARE THE NORSEMEN?

That is a question we have been asking ourselves for years (since 1987!). I have been "awarded" the honor of explaining what our "Band of Misfits" is all about. By "awarded", I mean that I have been a part of this motley crew a while longer than my co-conspirator in this endeavor, so he felt I should be the one to place our "Norsemen Manifesto" in print.

To put it simply, being a Norseman means having a good time regardless of the consequences! But it is more complex than that... A good time to a Norseman is in the eye of the beholder! There are some Norsemen (well one, anyway) who think swimming in fountains in downtown Charlotte after a Buffett concert is a good time. Others think seeing a Buffett concert in Charlotte on a Friday (and drinking until 3am), then getting up the following morning & driving to Columbia, MD (without tickets, I might add) to see him the next night is a good time (as a side note, we got 2nd row seats for face value). Virtually all Norsemen think migrating to Myrtle Beach, SC, in January to play golf in frigid temperatures is a damn good time. Still others think.... Well, I think you get the idea - Have a good time regardless of the consequences (a 3 day hangover, arrest, job loss, alienation of significant other, etc.).

As you have probably noticed, one major theme in the Norsemen way of life is the music (and writing) of the legendary Jimmy Buffett. I'll expand on that later. Another significant ingredient for most (but not all) who live the "Norseman Lifestyle" is alcohol - primarily beer. The Do-gooders who frown upon alcohol consumption should have already stopped reading much earlier, so I don't think I'm offending anyone at this point when I tell you that most Norsemen consider alcohol as the "Universal Social Lubricant". It tends to enhance our Fun Quotient at gatherings! It was the volatile combination of beer with that damn quest for a good time regardless of the consequences that led to the formation of the Norsemen.

It all began on that fateful August day back in 1987. My good friend (and other Founding Member) Allen McGee & I decided it was time for a small, informal keg party at our summer school dorm in Chapel Hill. The only problem was the new UNC-Chapel Hill campus alcohol policy forbade kegs in dorms, regardless of the occasion (and in our case, we were celebrating Friday!). Undaunted by the new policy (not to mention the numerous dorm officials constantly roaming the dorm lobby), we got our other three partners in crime and carried the keg up six flights of stairs (we were in much better shape in 1987). The shindig began rather calmly, with the original five members in attendance (five to a keg is not uncommon in our circle of friends). Unfortunately, word traveled fast via "coconut telegraph", and soon our "small" party had way too many people in attendance. To make a long story short, a toilet overflowed, flooded a bathroom on the floor below (that happened to belong to a dorm resident assistant), and the shit basically hit the fan! As was our custom, Allen & I had long since set out on the town when all of this occurred. Nevertheless, we were implicated in the "crime". The five of us were kicked out of the dorm the following Monday. After each of us were given the news individually (The "Dorm Troopers" treated it like the Spanish Inquisition), we all met to decide what to do next. "He's Not (Here) is open, and we could all use some Blue Cups" was the unanimous answer. At this point, I would like to give a Norsemen thanks to Mark Burnette, proprietor of He's Not Here in Chapel Hill, for the following things: (1) His bar being across the street from our dorm; (2) Having his bar open that fateful afternoon; and (3) Selling such economically priced 32 oz. beers!! As we drank & threw darts that afternoon (a dangerous combination), we decided our group of societal outcasts needed a name. Our first choice - which incidentally I consider the greatest in all of "Sports-Entertainment" (I.E. pro wrestling) - was already taken: "The Four Horsemen". Besides, there were five us, not four! So we decided on the next best thing. "Gimme a word that rhymes with Horsemen", I said with drunken conviction. "Norsemen", slurred my good buddy McGee. "You know, Vikings and shit". "Works for me", I responded. "From now on, our misguided group will be known as the Norsemen". And thus the die was cast.... (at least that's how I remember it!). That eventful day (and night) ended with fellow Norseman Hatguy taking an extended tour of Chapel Hill via the "luxurious" Chapel Hill Transit System (Actually, he passed out on the damn bus going back to his apartment, and rode half the night until the driver finally woke him up!).  

I never would have thought this crazy shit would still be alive fourteen years later (and counting), but I'm damn glad it is!! There are currently over twenty active Norsemen. We cover the Mid-Atlantic section of the Eastern U.S., from Lexington, SC, up through Charlotte/Greensboro/Raleigh (Wake Forest), Etc. in North Carolina (Norsemen South & Central), then into Virginia/Maryland/DC (Norsemen North), all the way up to our transplanted "Yankee" Norsemen in Philly/Jersey (Norseman Too Damn Far North). We extend West to the "Left Coast", where our Favorite Norseman Lesbian (Uh..., I mean Thespian) resides in La-La Land (Norseman West), and beyond, all the way across the "Big Pond" to Seoul, Korea, where "Arren McGlee" currently resides (Norseman Far East? Hell, I don't know).  We range in age from late 20's to early 70's. We are as diverse as a group can be, yet we all share that common quest for a good time regardless of the consequences. Although I must admit, the consequences are at least considered now!

That quest for a good time manifests itself in two major annual events: (1) "The Annual Buffett-Norsemen Extravaganza"

Each year (when Jimmy obliges us with a good weekend date), the Norsemen choose one Jimmy Buffett concert that most, if not all, Norsemen can attend. It is usually in North Carolina or Virginia, depending on how his tour pans out. Non-Norsemen Parrotheads, you probably did not know us before, but you'll be able to recognize us now! Be sure to look for the "Butler Boys" Buffett banners & the louder than average party (even for Parrotheads). Once you find that, you are home!

P.S. - Jimmy, you're really pissing us off lately. We NEED a damn weekend date in North Carolina (and tickets - LOTS of tickets!!).  

(2) "The Annual Norsemen Open Golf Tournament"

This event is held each year in the "Golf & Adult Entertainment Capital of the World" - Myrtle Beach, SC. We migrate to the coast every January to tear up some of Myrtle Beach's finer golf courses by day, and partake of the many "extra-curricular" activities by night. It's a guaranteed affordable, damn good time! And for those of you who have seen the T-Shirts: Sorry, it is an "Open", but that means "Open to Norsemen (and their selected guests) Only". Feel free to watch if you recognize us, but no bitchin' about the slow (and sloppy) play! As with most other Norseman activities, golf is a reason to get together and drink way too many beers!

Well, that's basically it! The site has different areas to check out, so feel free to look around. Rest assured we will adhere to a strict schedule for updating our humble little site. It will be updated WHENEVER WE DAMN WELL FEEL LIKE IT! Kinda like the old snail-mail newsletter, for those of you who remember! In closing, I'd like to say if you're crazy enough to have read this far, I hope you had a helluva good time learning about our group! Until next time - HERE'S TO US, AND THOSE LIKE US!! DAMN FEW LEFT!!

Russbo

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