Basic Cigar information.

Did you know?

When color of a cigar is mentioned, it refers to its outside wrapper. There are six basic colors of a cigar wrapper. A lighter wrapper usually has a mild taste, while a darker wrapper has a full-bodied flavor and is sweeter. There is no favorite or popular wrapper, as every individual taste is unique. 

CLARO CLARO

A mild and bland wrapper that is greenish in color. Also know as double claro, candela and jade. Slightly sweet, at one time they were quite popular in the United States.

CLARO

Neutral flavor, light and yellowish in color.

COLORADO

Rich in flavor with a subtle aroma. Reddish-brown in color.

MADURO

Strong in flavor, mild aroma. Dark brown color. The wrapper should be silky and oily.

OSCURO

Darkest of the wrappers because it's left on the tobacco plant longer and has a lengthier maturing period. Almost black in color. 

http://www.cigarwoman.com/colorguide.html

Father's Day

Normally this holiday is kinda of in the ho-hum of holiday hierarchy. It kinda of borders on the least revered in the sense that Christmas, Valentines Day, Mother's Day, 4th of  July and Thanksgiving are by far the most popular. Well this year Fathers Day is probably the most important holiday for me. One thing I have been able to do is really cherish my children and the time that I spend with them. Without spilling all of my doings in this world I will say things have changed alot for me in the last 4 months from separating from my wife and dealing with the process of a divorce it has been trying.

So Father's Day is a bigger and more emotional day for me as I transition to being a single father and the reality that I'm not perfect and know matter how hard I try sometimes even that is not good enough. So I will enjoy every minute with the most important people in my lives my son and daughter. As I type this they are sleeping peacefully and I wouldn't have it any other way!

So to all the men out there that are Fathers to their children I raise my glass and I salute you. This holiday is my favorite and hopefully it will be yours also. To those reading this with a father in your life tell him how much you love him.

Phil Jackson Takes Record 10th NBA Crown—Celebrates with a Cigar

I must defer to Cigar Aficionado on this article on Phil Jackson of the LA Lakers. This will be the beginning of my weekly series dedicated to fine Cigars and those who enjoy them.

http://www.cigaraficionado.com/Cigar/CA_Features/CA_Feature_Basic_Template/0,2344,2790,00.html

Posted: Monday, June 15, 2009

By David Savona  

The Lakers won the NBA championship last night, beating the Orlando Magic 99—86. The win gave coach Phil "the Zen Master" Jackson his tenth NBA title as coach, making him the most accomplished man ever to coach in the NBA, and he intended to celebrate with a smoke.

Jackson, who had been tied at nine victories with Red Auerbach, a man who was seldom seen without a cigar in hand, told the media after the game that he would fire up in honor of moving past the Celtics legend. "I'll smoke a cigar tonight in memory of Red," Jackson said. "He was a great guy."

Jackson won his first six titles with the Chicago Bulls, leading a team that included Michael Jordan and Scottie Pippen. He left the Bulls in 1998, after feuding with Chicago general manager Jerry Krause, and took a year off before returning to coaching with the Los Angeles Lakers. In his first year with Los Angeles, the Lakers won the NBA title. Last night's victory was his fourth with Los Angeles.

As gaudy as Jackson's ten NBA championships are, even more impressive is the fact that teams under his stewardship have won three in a row on three occasions: his Bulls did the "three-peat" twice, and the Lakers did it once.

Auerbach (who died in 2006) and Jackson have both worn the title of cigar aficionado. Auerbach smoked victory cigars on the Celtics bench when his team was comfortably ahead, and was so synonymous with cigars that back in the days when one could still smoke in some restaurants, Boston's Legal Seafood put these words on its menu: "No cigar or pipe smoking, except for Red Auerbach."

Jackson coached in a different era, where puffing in a NBA arena was impossible. In a 1998 interview, he claimed cigars relaxed him in the same way meditation did. "I owe it all to meditation and to cigars," he said. Jackson cut his NBA coaching teeth with the Chicago Bulls, owned by ardent cigar lover Jerry Reinsdorf, who gave cigars to his star Michael Jordan.

NBA Basketball Fantastic!!!!!!

Just like the motto of the NBA back in the day I'm reminded of how simple a game basketball is. I grew up in an era where people regarded that time as the Golden age of basketball. Magic, Bird and Jordan where the names that everyone knew and we were all glued to our TV sets to watch. Now today was we watch a faster more athletic NBA we call upon the spirits of NBA past to help guide the sport back into the homes of those from the not so distant past.

As we bear witness to the coming of Lebron James the maturing of Dwight Howard or the cementing of a legacy in Kobe Bryant we can hope that the future of NBA basketball is strong and on a good footing. I watched Game 3 of the NBA finals at a great location with good friends and fabulous food. The Magic accomplished a team first by winning a NBA finals game and by doing so they trail the series 2 -1 with game 4 on Thursday June 11, 2009. The game was good for the Magic as they played one of their best overall team games in shooting over 60% from the field. As the Magic played an unbelievable game they only managed to win the game by 5 points and the game was very tight throughout the entire contest. To gain another victory in my opinion with another near flawless night is unlikely considering the level of competition. My previous post I alluded to some great home cooking and good rest to gain a victory and I'm glad they did just that. Now that the food has settled and jitters of playing at home has settled hopefully they can hold serve on their home court and send the series to game 5. 

As much as I have learned to appreciate the NBA again I hope this series can be the defining point were the NBA is able to get its appeal back into the mainstream as it has done in years past with Magic, Bird and Jordan....Whose to say that Lebron, Dwight and Kobe could be the ones to accomplish it for them. "NBA Basketball its Fantastic"

NBA Finals 2009!!!!!!

So as I write this post the Lakers are up 2 games to zero over the Orlando Magic. The first 2 games were played in Los Angeles the home of the Lakers. The first game was a total team victory as the Lakers pounded the Magic who pretty much sleepwalked through the entire contest. As game 2 rolled around people began to question if Orlando had what it took to run with the Lakers. I reflect back to the series with the Cleveland Cavaliers and how the Magic had numerous answers, so I knew they had the fire power to win but will they be able to put it all together. 

So game 2 was a defensive struggle for most of the game with Rashard Lewis being the offensive juggernaut. At one time during the 2nd quarter Lewis had scored 18 of the Magics 20 points...can we say coming out party!!!! I knew of Rashard Lewis when he played in the Northwest with the then Seattle SuperSonics. Rashard Lewis came up the hard way in the straight from High School era of young players. The greatest benefit for Lewis was developing his game in the no-pressure atmosphere of Seattle. He was able to hone his craft from one of the best clutch 3point shooters in the Boston Celtics Ray Allen. In his 10 plus season campaigns in the NBA the limelight he is in is well deserved and I would imagine quite gratifying. So as the Orlando Magic stare down the barrel of an 3-0 deficit hopefully they are taking in the home cooked meal and night with family to get their bearings and basketball in order. One thing is certain the Lakers have come to play and hopefully the Magic is up to the task of pulling out a victory in game 3.

Washington Redskins Family Day!!!!

On Monday June 1, 2009 the Washington Redskins invited players, team employees, their families and select VIPs out to Six Flags yesterday. I must have gotten lucky since I'm neither, a good friend told me he had an extra ticket and since I lived some 10 minutes away it was easy for me.

I must say the Redskins went all out with this affair. The grounds were in great shape, it was clean and the employees were all happy and upbeat. With the limited number of people at the park it was quite enjoyable. I would never at any other time make it out Six Flags but did so today because of the special circumstance and also not having the general public in attendance.

I saw a few Redskins players who were taking in the rides and foods with their families but it was a little difficult for some other more high profile players. I saw Clinton Portis and gave him the good ole "what's up CP" with the fist in the air. He was cool and shot back a "peace" sign. That is at most my only type of interactions with the players since I'm not into the autographs and picture taking. But on the other hand most of the fans in attendance are quite the opposite. As I turned around after seeing Portis because I discovered I was headed in the wrong direction I came upon a giant mob of people. In my mind I new it had to be a player that was swarmed. I was correct and it was Portis, now this guy had about 50 people requesting pics and autographs. As I walked past and headed to my destination, the team provided free food, drinks and ice cream. The team gets major cool points for actually feeding a person meals that would cost about 10 bucks or more. So I ate a cheeseburger that was brought in from the Sunshine Service station(best burger in world)...thanks Mark. I was seated with a few friends who were waiting for us to arrive and they were with the Hoggettes and Chief Zee. So we woofed our food and grabbed some ice cream. We are now headed to the train that will take us around to another side of the park. So we get on the train and the Hoggettes and Chief Zee begin to break out the Redskins fight song..."Hail To the Redskins". It was a nice train ride. We pulled up to the station and disembarked. As I'm walking down the stairs I see a mob of people...so like the last time I assumeed a player, and low and behold it was Clinton Portis from the time I last saw him until now it was probably almost an hour and that man continued to sign every autograph and take every picture. I felt a bit sad for the guy having to sign so much...but it shows tremendous character on his part to not deny a single person. It turns out he was signing for about 2 hours and had it not been for security who had to escort him to a team function on the grounds that guy probably would have signed for everyone. Much props to you CP!

While in the park I heard some grumblings on how one player(high paid) in particular wouldn't sign anything for adults but would do so for the kids. The particular person that grumbled had 3 footballs, 2 jerseys and 2 hats so I would have imagined the player saw all that he had and refused to sign the items...who knows what was headed to e-bay or some other auction place. I don't think the event was called Fan appreciation so to be able to any autographs at all should be a bonus because I don't believe that the players are obligated to give an autograph at a fans request. I might be in the minority but the players should have a life and be able to enjoy themselves like the rest of us.

The Washington Redskins did a great thing that night and I applaud them for their work. Hopefully events like these could be common place because in these lean economic times people need all the incentives and perks possible. I hope I get lucky on the next go-around because I will never attend Six Flags unless it is an event like I attended last night.